Method for controlling terminal apparatus that remotely controls air conditioner, non-transitory recording medium storing program executed by terminal apparatus, recommend method executed by terminal apparatus, and terminal apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a terminal apparatus, to remotely operate a plurality of appliances, the terminal apparatus including a memory that stores setting information for setting a plurality of target appliances to be operated by remote operation. The method includes causing a computer of the terminal apparatus to judge whether the setting information includes information about the plurality of target appliances; causing a display of the terminal apparatus to, when the computer judges that the setting information includes information about the plurality of target appliances, display a start instruction image, that includes an instruction image region that provides an instruction for the remote operation to the plurality of target appliances and provides a starting instruction for the remote operation; and causing the computer, when the instruction image region is operated, to output control data for providing the instruction for the remote operation to the plurality of target appliances.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/722,159, filed May 27, 2015, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Pat. Appl. No. 62/004,202, filed May 29, 2014, and whichclaims the benefit of Japanese Pat. Appl. No. 2014-153937, filed on Jul.29, 2014. The entire disclosure of each of the above-identifiedapplications, including the specification, drawings, and claims, isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a technique of remotely operating anair conditioner installed in a building from a car.

2. Description of the Related Art

The recent advances of communication technologies have enabled a user toremotely operate a home appliance installed in a building from a car(see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-64881).According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2002-64881, a user in a car operates a communication terminal to call ahome server installed in a user's home. The user then makes areservation setting for an operation of a home appliance in the home byusing the called home server. As a result, the user is able to remotelycontrol the home appliance.

SUMMARY

In general, many users each own a plurality of air conditioners. Thetechnique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002-64881 enables a user to remotely control an airconditioner, but the user is requested to perform various operations toremotely control a single air conditioner. If the user wants to operatea plurality of air conditioners, the user is requested to perform alarge amount of operations.

Thus, a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosureprovides a technique that enables a user to easily and remotely operatea plurality of air conditioners.

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a methodfor controlling a terminal apparatus that includes a display and that isused for an appliance control system for executing, from a car via anetwork, remote control on an air conditioner installed in a building.The terminal apparatus includes a memory storing setting informationspecifying a plurality of air conditioners designated as targets of theremote control. The method includes causing a computer of the terminalapparatus to judge, in response to input of status informationindicating that a certain period has not elapsed since power-on of thecar, by using the setting information, whether or not there exists anair conditioner designated as a target of the remote control; causingthe computer to, in a case where there exist at least two or more airconditioners designated as targets of the remote control, obtain firstposition information indicating a current position of the car and secondposition information indicating a position of the building, and judgewhether or not the position indicated by the first position informationis within a certain region relative to the position indicated by thesecond position information; causing the computer to, in a case wherethe position indicated by the first position information is within thecertain region relative to the position indicated by the second positioninformation, output, via the display of the terminal apparatus, onecommon piece of display data prompting a certain remote operation forthe at least two or more air conditioners, the one common piece ofdisplay data including one common instruction portion for starting thecertain remote operation; and causing the computer to, in a case whereselection of the one common instruction portion is detected, outputcontrol data for executing the certain remote operation on the at leasttwo or more air conditioners to the network, and individually output,via an output unit of the terminal apparatus, for the at least two ormore air conditioners, pieces of notification data indicating that thecontrol data has been output for each of the at least two or more airconditioners.

These general and specific aspects may be implemented using a system, amethod, and a computer program, and any combination of systems, methods,and computer programs.

The present disclosure enables a user to easily and remotely operate aplurality of air conditioners.

Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will beapparent from the specification and Figures. The benefits and/oradvantages may be individually provided by the various embodiments andfeatures of the specification and Figures, and need not all be providedin order to obtain one or more of the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing executed by acontrol system that remotely operates, from a car via a network, aplurality of air conditioners installed in a building (firstembodiment);

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S110of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 1 (first embodiment);

FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S120of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 1 (first embodiment);

FIG. 3B is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S120of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 1 (first embodiment);

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S130of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 1 (first embodiment);

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating communication between acommunication terminal and air conditioners (first embodiment);

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S150of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 1 (first embodiment);

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardwareconfiguration of the communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 5(second embodiment);

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary image used by a user to set a pluralityof candidate appliances to be operated and a start condition of a remoteoperation (third embodiment);

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a start conditionof a remote operation (third embodiment);

FIG. 8C illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a start conditionof a remote operation (third embodiment);

FIG. 8D illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a start conditionof a remote operation (third embodiment);

FIG. 8E illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a start conditionof a remote operation (third embodiment);

FIG. 8F illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a start conditionof a remote operation (third embodiment);

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of a touch paneldisplay that is executed when the image illustrated in FIG. 8E isdisplayed (third embodiment);

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of the touchpanel display that is executed when the image illustrated in FIG. 8F isdisplayed (third embodiment);

FIG. 11 is a table showing setting data stored in a memory of theterminal apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 (third embodiment);

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set theposition of a building (fourth embodiment);

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of the touchpanel display that is executed when the image illustrated in FIG. 12 isdisplayed (fourth embodiment);

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of a control system including thecommunication terminal (fifth embodiment);

FIG. 15A illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (fifth embodiment);

FIG. 15B illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (fifth embodiment);

FIG. 15C illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (fifth embodiment);

FIG. 15D illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (fifth embodiment);

FIG. 16A illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 16B illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal that is executed when the image illustrated inFIG. 8C is displayed (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal that is executed when the image illustrated inFIG. 8D is displayed (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal that is executed when the image illustrated inFIG. 16A is displayed (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal that is executed when the image illustrated inFIG. 16B is displayed (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal that is executed when the image illustrated inFIG. 15D is displayed (sixth embodiment);

FIG. 22A illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on a displaywhen the user uses an application program (seventh embodiment);

FIG. 22B illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the displaywhen the user uses the application program (seventh embodiment);

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the displaywhen the user uses an application program (eighth embodiment);

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the displaywhen the user uses an application program (ninth embodiment);

FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the displaywhen the user uses an application program (tenth embodiment);

FIG. 26A illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (eleventh embodiment);

FIG. 26B illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (eleventh embodiment);

FIG. 26C illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (eleventh embodiment);

FIG. 26D illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 7 (eleventh embodiment);

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a communication terminal (twelfthembodiment);

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a server apparatus (thirteenth embodiment);

FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of an air conditioner (fourteenth embodiment);

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a communication terminal (fifteenthembodiment);

FIG. 31 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle that runs near a boundaryof a control region (fifteenth embodiment);

FIG. 32 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing executed by thecommunication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (fifteenth embodiment);

FIG. 33 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (sixteenthembodiment);

FIG. 34 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommend judgmentprocessing (seventeenth embodiment);

FIG. 35 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1340 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 34 (seventeenth embodiment);

FIG. 36 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1360 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 34 (seventeenth embodiment);

FIG. 37 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1380 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 34 (seventeenth embodiment);

FIG. 38A is a table showing data about air conditioners stored in afirst storage unit of the communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30(eighteenth embodiment);

FIG. 38B is a table showing air conditioners that have been determinedas target appliances to be operated through image display judgmentprocessing (eighteenth embodiment);

FIG. 39 is a schematic flowchart illustrating image display judgmentprocessing (eighteenth embodiment);

FIG. 40 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing executed instep S1240 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 33 (nineteenthembodiment);

FIG. 41 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommend judgmentprocessing (twentieth embodiment);

FIG. 42 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommend judgmentprocessing (twenty-first embodiment);

FIG. 43 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a communication terminal (twenty-secondembodiment);

FIG. 44 is schematic flowchart illustrating a procedure for determiningan operation mode (twenty-third embodiment);

FIG. 45 is schematic flowchart illustrating another procedure fordetermining an operation mode (twenty-third embodiment);

FIG. 46 is a table showing data stored in the first storage unit of thecommunication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (twenty-fourthembodiment);

FIG. 47 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for determining adisplay order of images on the basis of the difference between atemperature set by the user and a measured temperature (twenty-fifthembodiment);

FIG. 48 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a server apparatus (twenty-sixthembodiment);

FIG. 49 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommend judgmentprocessing (twenty-seventh embodiment);

FIG. 50 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1850 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 49 (twenty-seventhembodiment);

FIG. 51 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommend judgmentprocessing (twenty-eighth embodiment);

FIG. 52 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (twenty-ninthembodiment);

FIG. 53A illustrates an exemplary image displayed on a display unit ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirtiethembodiment);

FIG. 53B illustrates an exemplary image displayed on the display unit ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirtiethembodiment);

FIG. 54 is a table showing exemplary data generated through operationsperformed on the images illustrated in FIGS. 53A and 53B (thirtiethembodiment);

FIG. 55 is a table showing data about target appliances to be operatedthat serve as a destination of control data for stopping operation(thirtieth embodiment);

FIG. 56 illustrates an exemplary image displayed on the display unit ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirtiethembodiment);

FIG. 57A illustrates an exemplary image displayed on the display unit ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirtiethembodiment);

FIG. 57B illustrates an exemplary image displayed on the display unit ofthe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirtiethembodiment);

FIG. 58 is a schematic flowchart illustrating setting processing forsetting a candidate appliance to be operated (thirty-first embodiment);

FIG. 59A illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirty-secondembodiment);

FIG. 59B illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirty-secondembodiment);

FIG. 59C illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirty-secondembodiment);

FIG. 59D illustrates an exemplary image that is presented to the user bythe communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 30 (thirty-secondembodiment);

FIG. 60 is a schematic flowchart illustrating start processing ofoff-recommend processing (thirty-third embodiment);

FIG. 61 is a schematic flowchart illustrating step S2140 (off-recommendprocessing) of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 60 (thirty-thirdembodiment);

FIG. 62 is a schematic flowchart illustrating off-recommend judgmentprocessing (thirty-fourth embodiment);

FIG. 63 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS2330 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 62 (thirty-fourthembodiment);

FIG. 64 is a schematic flowchart illustrating image display judgmentprocessing (thirty-fifth embodiment);

FIG. 65 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing executed instep S2240 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 61 (thirty-sixthembodiment);

FIG. 66 is a schematic flowchart illustrating off-recommend judgmentprocessing (thirty-seventh embodiment);

FIG. 67 is a schematic flowchart illustrating off-recommend judgmentprocessing (thirty-eighth embodiment); and

FIG. 68 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS2340 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 67 (thirty-eighthembodiment).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a description will be given of various embodimentsregarding a technique of remotely operating an air conditioner installedin a building from a car, with reference to the attached drawings. Thetechnique of remotely operating an air conditioner installed in abuilding from a car is clearly understandable from the followingdescription.

Issues Found Out by Inventors

The inventors have studied the technique disclosed in theabove-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No,2002-64881, and found out issues involved in the technique disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-64881. Theissues involved in the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2002-64881 will be described below.

According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2002-64881, a user (for example, a driver) operates a communicationterminal in a car to access a home server. The user then makes areservation setting for a home appliance via the home server.

When a time specified by the reservation setting approaches, the homeserver transmits confirmation image data to the communication terminal.The confirmation image data is used to determine whether or not the userallows the target home appliance to execute an operation specified bythe reservation setting. If the user approves the execution of theoperation, a permission signal of permitting the operation of the targethome appliance is transmitted from the communication terminal to thehome server. In response to the permission signal, the home servergenerates a control signal for executing the operation specified by thereservation setting. The control signal is transmitted from the homeserver to the target home appliance.

When the home appliance appropriately receives the control signal, thehome appliance generates a notification signal indicating that the homeappliance is appropriately operating in accordance with the controlsignal. The notification signal is transmitted from the home applianceto the home server. The home server transfers the notification signal tothe communication terminal.

The technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002-64881 is also available for remotely operating aplurality of air conditioners. For example, a user is able to remotelyoperate a first air conditioner and a second air conditioner, whichadjusts the temperature of a room different from a room where thetemperature is adjusted by the first air conditioner.

The user is able to set a first time as a preset time for the first airconditioner. The user is able to set a second time, which is differentfrom the first time, as a preset time for the second air conditioner.

When the first time approaches, the home server transmits confirmationimage data to the communication terminal. The confirmation image data isused to determine whether or not the user allows the first airconditioner to execute an operation specified by a reservation setting.When the second time approaches, the home server transmits confirmationimage data to the communication terminal. The confirmation image data isused to determine whether or not the user allows the second airconditioner to execute an operation specified by a reservation setting.Thus, the user needs to operate the communication terminal every timeconfirmation image data is transmitted.

Many users do not want to frequently operate a communication terminal ina car. The users may want to finish an operation on the communicationterminal in a short time while the car is stopped at a red light. Thetechnique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002-64881 does not satisfy such users' needs.

On the basis of the above-described considerations, the inventors haveconceived of individual aspects of the present disclosure.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling aterminal apparatus that includes a display and that is used for anappliance control system for executing, from a car via a network, remotecontrol on an air conditioner installed in a building. The terminalapparatus includes a memory storing setting information specifying aplurality of air conditioners designated as targets of the remotecontrol. The method includes causing a computer of the terminalapparatus to judge, in response to input of status informationindicating that a certain period has not elapsed since power-on of thecar, by using the setting information, whether or not there exists anair conditioner designated as a target of the remote control; causingthe computer to, in a case where there exist at least two or more airconditioners designated as targets of the remote control, obtain firstposition information indicating a current position of the car and secondposition information indicating a position of the building, and judgewhether or not the position indicated by the first position informationis within a certain region relative to the position indicated by thesecond position information; causing the computer to, in a case wherethe position indicated by the first position information is within thecertain region relative to the position indicated by the second positioninformation, output, via the display of the terminal apparatus, onecommon piece of display data prompting a certain remote operation forthe at least two or more air conditioners, the one common piece ofdisplay data including one common instruction portion for starting thecertain remote operation; and causing the computer to, in a case whereselection of the one common instruction portion is detected, outputcontrol data for executing the certain remote operation on the at leasttwo or more air conditioners to the network, and individually output,via an output unit of the terminal apparatus, for the at least two ormore air conditioners, pieces of notification data indicating that thecontrol data has been output for each of the at least two or more airconditioners.

According to this aspect, even in the case of starting a remoteoperation for a plurality of air conditioners, only one common piece ofdisplay data is output to the display of the terminal apparatus. A useris able to provide an instruction to execute a remote operation on theplurality of air conditioners only by selecting the one commoninstruction portion included in the one common piece of display data. Inother words, the user only has to perform one input operation and doesnot need to perform input operations many times while driving, and thusthe degree of safety increases.

Further, after the instruction to execute a remote operation on theplurality of air conditioners has been provided, notifications areindividually output for the plurality of air conditioners. That is,operations for the plurality of air conditioners are simultaneouslyexecuted, and thus the user is correctly notified which air conditionernormally operates and which air conditioner does not normally operate.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includescausing the computer to, in a case where selection of the one commoninstruction portion is not detected within a certain period from whenthe one common piece of display data is output, stop detecting selectionof the one common instruction portion and start a re-notification timer,and prevent the one common piece of display data from being output againbefore a timeout of the re-notification timer occurs.

According to this aspect, in a case where the car is moving in a certainregion, for example, sequential output of the same pieces of displaydata is prevented. Accordingly, output of common display data isappropriately controlled, and efficient control can be executed.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includescausing the computer to obtain operation statuses from the at least twoor more air conditioners after the control data for executing thecertain remote operation on the at least two or more air conditionershas been output to the network, and individually output, via the outputunit of the terminal apparatus, the operation statuses for the at leasttwo or more air conditioners.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the setting information includesin advance a fixed order for the plurality of air conditioners, and themethod further includes causing the computer to output the pieces ofnotification data for the at least two or more air conditioners inaccordance with the fixed order.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a non-transitory computerreadable recording medium storing a program executed by a terminalapparatus that includes a display and that is used for an appliancecontrol system for executing, from a car via a network, remote controlon an air conditioner installed in a building. The terminal apparatusincludes a memory storing setting information specifying a plurality ofair conditioners designated as targets of the remote control. Theprogram causes a computer of the terminal apparatus to judge, inresponse to input of status information indicating that a certain periodhas not elapsed since power-on of the car, by using the settinginformation, whether or not there exists an air conditioner designatedas a target of the remote control; in a case where there exist at leasttwo or more air conditioners designated as targets of the remotecontrol, obtain first position information indicating a current positionof the car and second position information indicating a position of thebuilding, and judge whether or not the position indicated by the firstposition information is within a certain region relative to the positionindicated by the second position information; in a case where theposition indicated by the first position information is within thecertain region relative to the position indicated by the second positioninformation, output, via the display of the terminal apparatus, onecommon piece of display data prompting a certain remote operation forthe at least two or more air conditioners, the one common piece ofdisplay data including one common instruction portion for starting thecertain remote operation; and in a case where selection of the onecommon instruction portion is detected, output control data forexecuting the certain remote operation on the at least two or more airconditioners to the network, and individually output, via an output unitof the terminal apparatus, for the at least two or more airconditioners, pieces of notification data indicating that the controldata has been output for each of the at least two or more airconditioners.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a recommend method in anappliance control system for executing, from a car via a network, remotecontrol on an air conditioner installed in a building. The recommendmethod includes judging, in response to input of status informationindicating that a certain period has not elapsed since power-on of thecar, by using a first memory storing setting information specifying aplurality of air conditioners designated as targets of the remotecontrol, whether or not there exist the plurality of air conditionersdesignated as targets of the remote control; in a case where there existat least two or more air conditioners designated as targets of theremote control, obtaining first position information indicating acurrent position of the car and second position information indicating aposition of the building, and judging whether or not the positionindicated by the first position information is within a certain regionrelative to the position indicated by the second position information;in a case where the position indicated by the first position informationis within the certain region relative to the position indicated by thesecond position information, outputting, via a display of the terminalapparatus, one common piece of display data prompting a certain remoteoperation for the at least two or more air conditioners, the one commonpiece of display data including one common instruction portion forstarting the certain remote operation; and in a case where selection ofthe one common instruction portion is detected, outputting control datafor executing the certain remote operation on the at least two or moreair conditioners to the network, and individually outputting, via anoutput unit of the terminal apparatus, for the at least two or more airconditioners, pieces of notification data indicating that the controldata has been output for each of the at least two or more airconditioners.

An aspect of the present disclosure is a terminal apparatus that is usedfor an appliance control system for executing, from a car via a network,remote control on an air conditioner installed in a building. It isjudged, in response to input of status information indicating that acertain period has not elapsed since power-on of the car, by using afirst memory storing setting information specifying a plurality of airconditioners designated as targets of the remote control, whether or notthere exist the plurality of air conditioners designated as targets ofthe remote control. In a case where there exist at least two or more airconditioners designated as targets of the remote control, first positioninformation indicating a current position of the car and second positioninformation indicating a position of the building are obtained, and itis judged whether or not the position indicated by the first positioninformation is within a certain region relative to the positionindicated by the second position information. In a case where theposition indicated by the first position information is within thecertain region relative to the position indicated by the second positioninformation, one common piece of display data prompting a certain remoteoperation for the at least two or more air conditioners is output via adisplay of the terminal apparatus, the one common piece of display dataincluding one common instruction portion for starting the certain remoteoperation. In a case where selection of the one common instructionportion is detected, control data for executing the certain remoteoperation on the at least two or more air conditioners is output to thenetwork, and pieces of notification data indicating that the controldata has been output for each of the at least two or more airconditioners are individually output for the at least two or more airconditioners via an output unit of the terminal apparatus.

First Embodiment

As described above, according to the technique disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-64881, a user isrequested to perform frequent operations. In a first embodiment, adescription will be given of a technique that allows a user to easilyperform remote operations on a plurality of air conditioners.

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing executed by acontrol system that remotely operates, from a car via a network, aplurality of air conditioners installed in a building. With reference toFIG. 1, a description will be given of the processing executed by thecontrol system. In this embodiment, an appliance control system isexemplified by the control system that executes various processingoperations in accordance with the flowchart in FIG. 1.

The flowchart in FIG. 1 is preferably available for activating aplurality of air conditioners. In the following description, theprocessing according to the flowchart in FIG. 1 is referred to as“on-recommend processing”. In this embodiment, a recommend method isexemplified by the on-recommend processing described below.

In step S110, the control system specifies a plurality of targetappliances to be remotely operated. After that, step S120 is executed.

In step S120, the control system specifies a position of a vehicle. Ifthe position of the vehicle satisfies a certain condition, step S130 isexecuted.

In step S130, the control system presents an operation image to a user.When the user performs a certain operation on the operation image, stepS140 is executed.

In step S140, the control system generates control data in response tothe operation performed by the user. The control data is output from acommunication terminal to a network. In this embodiment, a terminalapparatus is exemplified by the communication terminal. Thecommunication terminal may be an in-vehicle apparatus installed in avehicle (for example, a car navigation system). Alternatively, thecommunication terminal may be a mobile terminal carried by the user (forexample, a smartphone). Alternatively, the communication terminal may beanother apparatus capable of outputting control data from a vehicle to anetwork. The principle of this embodiment is not limited by a specificcommunication terminal. After the control data has been output from thecommunication terminal to the network, step S150 is executed.

In step S150, the control data is output from the network to theplurality of target appliances to be operated. The plurality of targetappliances to be operated each generate a notification signalrepresenting the receipt of the control data. The notification signalsare output from the individual target appliances to be operated to thecommunication terminal via the network. In response to the notificationsignals, the communication terminal generates notification imagesindicating that the control data has been transmitted to each of theplurality of target appliances to be operated. Accordingly, the user isable to determine whether or not a remote operation has beenappropriately executed by seeing the notification images.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S110.With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a description will be given of theprocessing in step S110. In this embodiment, a first judgment step isexemplified by step S110.

A memory of the communication terminal stores, in advance, informationabout a plurality of air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4 owned bythe user. The user presets, in the memory, one or more candidateappliances to be remotely operated using the control system. If the userdesignates a plurality of air conditioners as candidate appliances to beoperated, the processing in step S110 is continued. FIG. 2 illustratesthat the user has set the air conditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3 ascandidate appliances to be operated. In this embodiment, settinginformation is exemplified by information representing the airconditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3 that are set as candidate appliances tobe operated. The candidate appliances to be operated may be set inaccordance with a user's need. Therefore, the principle of thisembodiment is not limited by a specific setting of candidate appliancesto be operated.

The memory also stores information about temperature conditions that aredefined for the individual air conditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3 set ascandidate appliances to be operated, as well as the information aboutthe candidate appliances to be operated. The temperature conditionsdefine start conditions under which the air conditioners AC1, AC2, andAC3 are activated. For example, the user may set a lower-limittemperature of 20° C. and an upper-limit temperature of 30° C. as atemperature condition for the air conditioner AC1. The user may set alower-limit temperature of 22° C. and an upper-limit temperature of 33°C. as a temperature condition for the air conditioner AC2. The user mayset a lower-limit temperature of 18° C. and an upper-limit temperatureof 35° C. as a temperature condition for the air conditioner AC3. Inthis embodiment, condition information is exemplified by the informationabout temperature conditions.

A computer of the communication terminal (for example, a centralprocessing unit (CPU)) compares an outside temperature with atemperature represented by a temperature condition. The outsidetemperature may be a temperature outside a vehicle. Alternatively, theoutside temperature may be a temperature outside the rooms where theplurality of air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4 are installed. Theprinciple of this embodiment is not limited by a specific position atwhich an outside temperature is measured.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 are selected,by the computer, as target appliances to be operated. If informationabout an outside temperature obtained by the computer represents 34° C.,the computer selects the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 as targetappliances to be operated. The air conditioners AC1 and AC2 operate in acooling mode under the control executed by the control system. That is,the above-described setting of an upper-limit temperature is used as astart condition of starting operation in the cooling mode.

If information about an outside temperature obtained by the computerrepresents 18° C., the computer selects the air conditioners AC1 and AC2as target appliances to be operated. The air conditioners AC1 and AC2operate in a heating mode under the control executed by the controlsystem. That is, the above-described setting of a lower-limittemperature is used as a start condition of starting operation in theheating mode. In this embodiment, a set temperature is exemplified bythe above-described upper-limit temperature and lower-limit temperature.The upper-limit temperature and lower-limit temperature may bedetermined according to user's preference. Thus, the principle of thisembodiment is not limited by specific values of the upper-limittemperature and lower-limit temperature.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are conceptual diagrams illustrating the processing instep S120. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B, a description will be givenof the processing in step S120. In this embodiment, a second judgmentstep is exemplified by step S120.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the computer of the communicationterminal selects a plurality of air conditioners (the air conditionersAC1 and AC2) as target appliances to be operated, step S120 is executed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the control system presets a controlregion CR surrounding a building HM in which the air conditioners AC1,AC2, AC3, and AC4 are installed. The area and shape of the controlregion CR may be determined by the user. Alternatively, the area andshape of the control region CR may be determined by the control system.The principle of this embodiment is not limited by a specific area and aspecific shape of the control region CR.

The computer of the communication terminal obtains position informationabout the position of a vehicle VC. The obtainment of the positioninformation may depend on a global positioning system (GPS) techniquethat is used for a general car navigation system. The principle of thisembodiment is not limited by a specific technique for obtaining positioninformation. In this embodiment, a car is exemplified by the vehicle VC.

FIG. 3A illustrates that the vehicle VC exists in the control region CR.FIG. 3B illustrates that the vehicle VC exists in a region outside thecontrol region CR. The computer of the communication terminal judges, onthe basis of the position information, whether or not the vehicle VCexists in the control region CR.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S130.With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A and 4, a description will be given ofthe processing in step S130. In this embodiment, a first display step isexemplified by step S130.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, when the computer of the communicationterminal judges that the vehicle VC exists in the control region CR,step S130 is executed.

In step S130, a touch panel display of the communication terminaldisplays an operation image OIM for providing an instruction to start aremote operation for the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 selected as targetappliances to be operated. The operation image OIM includes an operationregion OPR, which is operated by the user. The operation region OPR maybe a general icon button. The principle of this embodiment is notlimited by a specific design of the image displayed as the operationregion OPR. In this embodiment, a display is exemplified by the touchpanel display of the communication terminal. A start instruction imageis exemplified by the operation image OIM.

The user is able to provide an instruction to start a remote operationto both the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 by operating the operationregion OPR. Thus, the user is able to provide an instruction to start aremote operation to the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 with a smalleramount of operations than in the related art. In this embodiment, aninstruction image region is exemplified by the operation region OPR.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating communications between acommunication terminal 100 and the air conditioners AC1 and AC2. Withreference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, a description will be given of theprocessing in step S140. In this embodiment, an output step isexemplified by step S140.

When the user operates the operation region OPR, the computer of thecommunication terminal 100 in the vehicle VC generates control data forstarting a remote operation for the air conditioners AC1 and AC2selected as target appliances to be operated. The control data is outputfrom the communication terminal 100 to a network NTW. The control datamay be subjected to certain signal processing over the network NTW.Alternatively, the control data may be directly transmitted to the airconditioners AC1 and AC2 via the network NTW. The principle of thisembodiment is not limited by specific signal processing executed on thecontrol data over the network NTW.

The network NTW transmits the control data to each of the airconditioners AC1 and AC2. When the air conditioner AC1 receives thecontrol data, the air conditioner AC1 generates notification datarepresenting the receipt of the control data. The notification data istransmitted from the air conditioner AC1 to the network NTW. When theair conditioner AC2 receives the control data, the air conditioner AC2generates notification data representing the receipt of the controldata. The notification data is transmitted from the air conditioner AC2to the network NTW. The pieces of notification data transmitted from theair conditioners AC1 and AC2 are transferred from the network NTW to thecommunication terminal 100.

If the network NTW does not receive notification data from the airconditioner AC1, the network NTW may generate notification dataindicating that transmission of the control data to the air conditionerAC1 has failed. If the network NTW does not receive notification datafrom the air conditioner AC2, the network NTW may generate notificationdata indicating that transmission of the control data to the airconditioner AC2 has failed. In these cases, notification data indicatingthat transmission of the control data has failed is transmitted from thenetwork NTW to the communication terminal 100. Accordingly, thecommunication terminal 100 is able to grasp a result of the transmissionof the control data.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the processing in step S150.With reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, a description will be given of theprocessing in step S150. In this embodiment, a second display step isexemplified by step S150.

The computer of the communication terminal 100 generates notificationimages NI1 and NI2 in accordance with the pieces of notification datatransmitted from the network NTW. The computer of the communicationterminal 100 generates the notification image NI1 representing a resultof transmission of the control data to the air conditioner AC1 inaccordance with the notification data corresponding to the airconditioner AC1. The computer of the communication terminal 100generates the notification image NI2 representing a result oftransmission of the control data to the air conditioner AC2 inaccordance with the notification data corresponding to the airconditioner AC2. Thus, the communication terminal 100 displays theplurality of notification images NI1 and NI2, unlike the operationimage.

Second Embodiment

The processing described above in relation to the first embodiment canbe executed by various communication terminals. In a second embodiment,a description will be given of an exemplary communication terminal.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardwareconfiguration of the communication terminal 100 described above inrelation to the first embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, adescription will be given of an exemplary hardware configuration of thecommunication terminal 100.

The communication terminal 100 includes a CPU 110, a bus 120, a datacommunication device 130, a memory 140, an information obtaining device150, and a touch panel display 160. The CPU 110 is connected to the datacommunication device 130, the memory 140, the information obtainingdevice 150, and the touch panel display 160 via the bus 120. The CPU 110executes a program of controlling the data communication device 130, thememory 140, the information obtaining device 150, and the touch paneldisplay 160. In this embodiment, a computer is exemplified by the CPU110.

The data communication device 130 is used to transmit control data andreceive notification data described above with reference to FIG. 5. Inaddition, the data communication device 130 may receive informationrepresenting a temperature in the building HM from the air conditionerAC1, AC2, AC3, or AC4, The data communication device 130 may be designedon the basis of a general communication technique for transmitting andreceiving data. The principle of this embodiment is not limited by aspecific structure of the data communication device 130.

The memory 140 includes a first storage region 141 and a second storageregion 142. The first storage region 141 is used to store informationspecifying the air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4 described abovewith reference to FIG. 2. In addition, the first storage region 141 isused to store information about the setting of candidate appliances tobe operated described above with reference to FIG. 2. The second storageregion 142 is used to store information about the temperature conditionsdescribed above with reference to FIG. 2. The second storage region 142may be provided in a memory element different from the one provided withthe first storage region 141. The principle of this embodiment is notlimited by a specific structure of the memory 140. In this embodiment, afirst memory is exemplified by the first storage region 141. A secondmemory is exemplified by the second storage region 142.

The memory 140 may store other information in addition to theabove-described information. For example, the memory 140 may storeinformation about the position of the building HM.

The information obtaining device 150 may be a GPS device that obtainsposition information about the position of the vehicle VC. In addition,a temperature sensor that detects a temperature outside the vehicle VCmay be used as the information obtaining device 150.

The touch panel display 160 includes a display 161 and an operationdetection sensor 162. The display 161 displays the operation image OIMdescribed above with reference to FIG. 4. In addition, the display 161displays the plurality of notification images NI1 and NI2 describedabove with reference to FIG. 6. The operation detection sensor 162detects a user operation performed in the operation region OPR describedabove with reference to FIG. 4.

Instead of the touch panel display 160, a display device that is usedexclusively for displaying the operation image OIM and the plurality ofnotification images NI1 and NI2, and an input device that is usedexclusively for accepting a user operation may be used.

The CPU 110 executes a program for carrying out the processing describedabove with reference to FIG. 1. The program may be stored in the memory140 in advance. Alternatively, the program may be called by the CPU 110from another storage medium.

In step S110 described above with reference to FIG. 1, the programcauses the CPU 110 to read information from the first storage region 141and information from the second storage region 142. In addition, theprogram causes the CPU 110 to obtain information about an outsidetemperature. The CPU 110 may obtain information about an outsidetemperature via the data communication device 130. Alternatively, theCPU 110 may obtain information about an outside temperature from theinformation obtaining device 150.

The CPU 110 is able to find out, from the information read from thefirst storage region 141, that the user has set the air conditionersAC1, AC2, and AC3 as candidate appliances to be remotely operated (seeFIG. 2). The CPU 110 is able to find out, from the information read fromthe second storage region 142, information about temperatures that areset as start conditions of starting a remote operation for the airconditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3.

The program causes the CPU 110 to compare the information about anoutside temperature with the information about the temperatures that areset as start conditions. As a result, the CPU 110 is able to determineto handle the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 as target appliances to beoperated.

In step S120 described above with reference to FIG. 1, the programcauses the CPU 110 to obtain, from the information obtaining device 150,information about the position of the vehicle VC. The program causes theCPU 110 to read, from the memory 140, information about the position ofthe building HM. The program then causes the CPU 110 to compare theinformation about the position of the vehicle VC with the informationabout the position of the building HM. As a result, the CPU 110 is ableto judge whether or not the vehicle VC exists within the control regionCR (see FIGS. 3A and 3B).

If the CPU 110 judges that the vehicle VC exists within the controlregion CR, the program causes the CPU 110 to generate image datarepresenting the operation image OIM described above with reference toFIG. 4 (step S130 described above with reference to FIG. 1). The imagedata is output from the CPU 110 to the touch panel display 160. Thetouch panel display 160 displays the operation image OIM on the display161 in accordance with the image data.

When the user operates the operation region OPR in the operation imageOIM, the operation detection sensor 162 generates a detection signalindicating that the user has operated the operation region OPR. Thedetection signal is output from the operation detection sensor 162 tothe CPU 110.

When the CPU 110 receives the detection signal, the program causes theCPU 110 to generate control data (step S140 described above withreference to FIG. 1). The control data is output from the CPU 110 to thedata communication device 130. After that, as described above withreference to FIG. 5, the control data is transmitted to the airconditioners AC1 and AC2 via the network NTW.

As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the network NTW transmitspieces of notification data. The data communication device 130 receivesthe pieces of notification data. The pieces of notification data areoutput from the data communication device 130 to the CPU 110.

When the CPU 110 receives the pieces of notification data, the programcauses the CPU 110 to generate pieces of image data representing thenotification images NI1 and NI2. The pieces of image data are outputfrom the CPU 110 to the touch panel display 160. The touch panel display160 displays, on the display 161, the notification images NI1 and NI2(step S150 described above with reference to FIG. 1).

Third Embodiment

As described above in relation to the first embodiment, the user sets aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated in order to specify atarget appliance to be operated. In addition, the user sets atemperature defining a start condition of a remote operation for each ofthe plurality of candidate appliances to be operated. In a thirdembodiment, a description will be given of an exemplary method forsetting a plurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a startcondition.

FIGS. 8A to 8F illustrate exemplary images used by the user to set aplurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a start conditionof a remote operation. With reference to FIGS. 7 to 8F, a descriptionwill be given of an exemplary method for setting a plurality ofcandidate appliances to be operated and a start condition.

When an application program is installed in the communication terminal100, an icon ICN illustrated in FIG. 8A is displayed on the display 161.When the user double-clicks the icon ICN, the display 161 displays theimage illustrated in FIG. 8B.

The image illustrated in FIG. 8B includes two input windows WD01 andWD02 and two icon buttons IB01 and IB02. The image illustrated in FIG.8B is used to authenticate the user. A unique identification number isassigned to the user in advance. In addition, the user sets a passwordfor using the application program in advance. Thus, a third party is notable to use the application program without permission.

The user inputs the identification number into the input window WD01. Inaddition, the user inputs the password into the input window WD02. Afterthat, when the user presses the icon button IB01, the display 161displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8C. When the user presses theicon button IB02, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG.8A again.

The image illustrated in FIG. 8C includes seven icon buttons IB03, IB04,IB05, IB06, IB07, IB08, and IB09. The five icon buttons IB03, IB04,IB05, IB06, and IB07 respectively represents a plurality of airconditioners owned by the user. FIG. 8C illustrates that the user ownsfive air conditioners.

One of the five air conditioners is installed in a living room. Anotherone of the five air conditioners is installed in a kitchen. Another oneof the five air conditioners is installed in a bed room. Another one ofthe five air conditioners is installed in one of two child's rooms. Theother one of the five air conditioners is installed in the other child'sroom. The user is able to make various settings for the five airconditioners by operating the five icon buttons IB03, IB04, IB05, IB06,and IB07. When the user presses the icon button IB03, the display 161displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8D. As a result, the user is ableto set an operation of the air conditioner installed in the living room.

The image illustrated in FIG. 8D includes four icon buttons IB10, IB11,IB12, and IB13. When the user presses the icon button IB11, the display161 displays an image with which the user selects one of a setting abouton-recommend processing and a setting about off-recommend processing(see FIG. 8E). In the following description, the term “off-recommendprocessing” means the processing for turning off an air conditionerthrough a remote operation executed from the communication terminal 100.

The image illustrated in FIG. 8E includes three icon buttons IB14, IB15,and IB16. When the user presses the icon button IB14, an image forsetting a plurality of candidate appliances to be operated and a startcondition (see FIG. 8F) is displayed.

The image illustrated in FIG. 8F includes two display windows WD03 andWD04 and six icon buttons IB17, IB18, IB19, IB20, IB21, and IB22. Thedisplay window WD03 displays the above-described lower-limittemperature. When the user presses the icon button IB17, the value ofthe lower-limit temperature increases. When the user presses the iconbutton IB18, the value of the lower-limit temperature decreases. Thedisplay window WD04 displays the above-described upper-limittemperature. When the user presses the icon button IB19, the value ofthe upper-limit temperature increases. When the user presses the iconbutton IB20, the value of the upper-limit temperature decreases. Thus,the user is able to seta start condition by operating the icon buttonsIB17, IB18, IB19, and IB20. FIG. 8F illustrates that the air conditionerin the living room is activated in response to a remote operation fromthe communication terminal 100 when the outside temperature becomes 15°C. or less or when the outside temperature becomes 25° C. or more.

The user is able to determine a candidate appliance to be operated, aswell as a start condition, by using the image illustrated in FIG. 8F. Ifthe user presses the icon button IB21, the air conditioner in the livingroom is registered as a candidate appliance to be operated. If the userdoes not press the icon button IB21, the air conditioner in the livingroom is not handled as a candidate appliance to be operated.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of the touchpanel display 160 that is executed when the image illustrated in FIG. 8Eis displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8D to 9, a description willbe given of the processing of the touch panel display 160.

In step S210, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8E.As a result, the user is requested to make a setting about on-recommendprocessing or a setting about off-recommend processing. After that, stepS220 is executed.

In step S220, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests display of the previously displayed image (that is, the imageillustrated in FIG. 8D). If the user presses the icon button IB16, stepS230 is executed. Otherwise, step S240 is executed.

In step S230, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8D.After that, the user performs a certain operation on the imageillustrated in FIG. 8D.

In step S240, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests a setting about on-recommend processing. If the user pressesthe icon button IB14, step S250 is executed. Otherwise, step S260 isexecuted.

In step S250, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8F.After that, the user performs a certain operation on the imageillustrated in FIG. 8F.

In step S260, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests a setting about off-recommend processing. If the user pressesthe icon button IB15, step S270 is executed. Otherwise, step S210 isexecuted.

In step S270, the display 161 displays an image for making a settingabout off-recommend processing. The user makes a certain setting on theimage for making a setting about off-recommend processing.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of the touchpanel display 160 that is executed when the image illustrated in FIG. 8Fis displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8E to 10, a description willbe given of the processing of the touch panel display 160.

Step S310 is executed after step S250 described above with reference toFIG. 9. In step S310, the display 161 displays the image illustrated inFIG. 8F. After that, step S320 is executed.

In step S320, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests display of the previously displayed image (that is, the imageillustrated in FIG. 8E). If the user presses the icon button IB22, stepS330 is executed. Otherwise, step S340 is executed.

In step S330, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8E,After that, the user performs a certain operation in accordance with theflowchart described above with reference to FIG. 9.

In step S340, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the useris going to adjust the upper-limit temperature. If the user is going toadjust the upper-limit temperature, the user presses the icon buttonIB19 or the icon button IB20. After that, step S350 is executed.Otherwise, step S360 is executed.

In step S350, the display 161 updates the value in the display windowWD04 in response to pressing of the icon button IB19 or the icon buttonIB20. After that, step S360 is executed.

In step S360, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the useris going to adjust the lower-limit temperature. If the user is going toadjust the lower-limit temperature, the user presses the icon buttonIB17 or the icon button IB18. After that, step S370 is executed.Otherwise, step S380 is executed.

In step S370, the display 161 updates the value in the display windowWD03 in response to pressing of the icon button IB17 or the icon buttonIB18. After that, step S380 is executed.

In step S380, it is judged whether or not the user is going to registerthe target air conditioner as a candidate appliance to be operated. Ifthe user is going to register the target air conditioner as a candidateappliance to be operated, the user presses the icon button IB21. Afterthat, step S390 is executed. Otherwise, step S310 is executed.

In step S390, the display 161 displays an image for making a settingabout off-recommend processing. The user makes a certain setting on theimage for making a setting about off-recommend processing.

FIG. 11 is a table showing setting data stored in the memory 140. Withreference to FIGS. 7, 10, and 11, a description will be given of thesetting data stored in the memory 140.

As a result of the processing described above with reference to FIGS. 9and 10, the memory 140 is able to store the setting data illustrated inFIG. 11. FIG. 11 illustrates that the user sets the air conditionersinstalled in the living room, kitchen, bed room, and child's room 2 ascandidate appliances to be operated, whereas the user does not set theair conditioner installed in the child's room 1 as a candidate applianceto be operated, in step S380 described above with reference to FIG. 10.Thus, the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and child's room 2 may be targets of the remote operationdescribed above in relation to the first embodiment, whereas the airconditioner installed in the child's room 1 is excluded from the targetsof the remote operation described above in relation to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the user sets an upper-limit temperature of 25°C. for the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen, andthe child's room 2, whereas the user sets an upper-limit temperature of30° C. for the air conditioner installed in the bed room in step S340described above with reference to FIG. 10. Thus, if the outsidetemperature exceeds 25° C., the air conditioners installed in the livingroom, kitchen, and child's room 2 operate in a cooling mode under theremote operation described above in relation to the first embodiment. Ifthe outside temperature exceeds 30° C., all the air conditioners set ascandidate appliances to be operated operate in the cooling mode underthe remote operation described above in relation to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the user sets a lower-limit temperature of 10°C. for the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen, andthe child's room 2, whereas the user sets a lower-limit temperature of5° C. for the air conditioner installed in the bed room in step S360described above with reference to FIG. 10. Thus, if the outsidetemperature is under 10° C., the air conditioners installed in theliving room, kitchen, and child's room 2 operate in a heating mode underthe remote operation described above in relation to the firstembodiment. If the outside temperature is under 5° C., all the airconditioners set as candidate appliances to be operated operate in theheating mode under the remote operation described above in relation tothe first embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

As described above in relation to the first embodiment, the user setsthe position of a target building in order to judge whether or not avehicle exists in a control region. In a fourth embodiment, adescription will be given of an exemplary method for setting theposition of a building.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary image used by the user to set theposition of the building HM. With reference to FIGS. 3A, 7, 8C, and 12,a description will be given of an exemplary method for setting theposition of the building HM.

The user is able to display, on the display 161, the image illustratedin FIG. 8C by using the method described above in relation to the thirdembodiment. When the user presses the icon button IB08, the display 161displays the image illustrated in FIG. 12.

The image illustrated in FIG. 12 includes three icon buttons IB23, IB24,and IB25. The user is able to set the position of the building HM bypressing the icon button IB23. When the user presses the icon buttonIB23, the touch panel display 160 may determine the position of thecommunication terminal 100 at the time when the icon button IB23 ispressed to be the position of the building HM in conjunction with theGPS device used as the information obtaining device 150.

The user is able to cancel the setting about the position of thebuilding HM set in the above-described manner by pressing the iconbutton IB24. When the user presses the icon button IB25, the display 161displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8C.

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of the touchpanel display 160 that is executed when the image illustrated in FIG. 12is displayed. With reference to FIGS. 3A, 7, 8C, 12, and 13, adescription will be given of the processing of the touch panel display160.

In step S410, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 12.After that, step S420 is executed.

In step S420, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests display of the previously displayed image (that is, the imageillustrated in FIG. 8C). If the user presses the icon button IB25, stepS430 is executed. Otherwise, step S440 is executed.

In step S430, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8C,After that, the user performs a certain operation on the imageillustrated in FIG. 8C.

In step S440, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests setting of the position of the building HM. If the user wantsto set the position of the building HM, the user presses the icon buttonIB23. After that, step S450 is executed. Otherwise, step S460 isexecuted.

In step S450, the touch panel display 160 may register, as the positionof the building HM, the position of the communication terminal 100 atthe time when the icon button IB23 is pressed. Information about theposition of the building HM is output from the touch panel display 160to the memory 140. After that, step S460 is executed.

In step S460, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userrequests cancellation of the setting about the position of the buildingHM. If the user wants to cancel the setting about the position of thebuilding HM, the user presses the icon button IB24. After that, stepS470 is executed. Otherwise, step S410 is executed.

In step S470, the CPU 110 erases information about the position of thebuilding HM from the memory 140. As a result, the setting of theposition of the building HM is appropriately canceled. After that, stepS410 is executed.

Fifth Embodiment

As described above in relation to the first embodiment, thecommunication terminal receives notification data from an airconditioner. If the communication terminal obtains, in addition to thenotification data, operation data representing the status of theoperation of the air conditioner after control data is received, theuser is able to determine whether or not the air conditioner isappropriately operating under the above-described remote operation. In afifth embodiment, a description will be given of a control systemcapable of transmitting, as notification data, operation datarepresenting a status of an operation of an air conditioner from the airconditioner to the communication terminal.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of a control system 200 including thecommunication terminal 100. With reference to FIG. 14, a descriptionwill be given of the control system 200.

The control system 200 includes a server apparatus 300 in addition tothe communication terminal 100, which has been described above inrelation to the first embodiment. The server apparatus 300 is connectedto the communication terminal 100 so as to be able to communicate withthe communication terminal 100 via an Internet communication networkITN. The control data described above in relation to the firstembodiment is transmitted from the communication terminal 100 to theserver apparatus 300 via the Internet communication network ITN.

After that, the control data is transmitted from the server apparatus300 to an air conditioner group ACG via the Internet communicationnetwork ITN. The air conditioner group ACG includes a plurality of airconditioners installed in the building HM. Each of the plurality of airconditioners that has received the control data operates in accordancewith the control data.

Each of the plurality of air conditioners that operates in accordancewith the control data generates notification data representing thereceipt of the control data. The pieces of notification datarepresenting the receipt of the control data are transmitted from theair conditioner group ACG to the server apparatus 300 via the Internetcommunication network ITN. After that, the server apparatus 300transmits the pieces of notification data to the communication terminal100.

FIGS. 15A to 15D illustrate exemplary images that are presented to theuser by the communication terminal 100. With reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 7,and 14 to 15D, a description will be given of the images presented tothe user by the communication terminal 100.

In step S130 described above with reference to FIG. 1, the display 161displays the image illustrated in FIG. 15A. The image illustrated inFIG. 15A corresponds to the operation image OIM described above withreference to FIG. 4.

The image illustrated in FIG. 15A includes two icon buttons IB26 andIB27. The icon buttons IB26 and IB27 correspond to the operation regionOPR described above with reference to FIG. 4.

If the user presses the icon button IB26, the communication terminal 100may suspend the processing illustrated in FIG. 1. When the user pressesthe icon button IB27, the CPU 110 generates control data. As describedabove with reference to FIG. 14, the control data is transmitted to theair conditioner group ACG via the server apparatus 300 (step S140 inFIG. 1).

The control data is received by a plurality of air conditionersspecified as target appliances to be operated in step S110 describedabove with reference to FIG. 1. Each of the plurality of airconditioners specified as target appliances to be operated thengenerates notification data. The pieces of notification data aretransmitted to the communication terminal 100 via the server apparatus300, as described above with reference to FIG. 14.

When the communication terminal 100 receives the pieces of notificationdata from the individual air conditioners specified as target appliancesto be operated, the display 161 sequentially displays the imagesillustrated in FIGS. 15B and 15C. FIG. 15B illustrates an imagecorresponding to the air conditioner installed in the living room. FIG.15C illustrates an image corresponding to the air conditioner installedin the kitchen.

The image illustrated in FIG. 15B includes icon buttons IB28 and IB29.When the user presses the icon button IB28, the display 161 displays theimage illustrated in FIG. 15C. When the user presses the icon buttonIB29, the communication terminal 100 requests the air conditionerinstalled in the living room to make a notification about the operationstatus. The air conditioner installed in the living room generatesoperation data representing the operation status. The operation data isthen transmitted from the air conditioner installed in the living roomto the communication terminal 100. As a result, the display 161 displaysdetailed information about the operation of the air conditionerinstalled in the living room (see FIG. 15D).

The image illustrated in FIG. 15C includes icon buttons IB30 and IB31.When the user presses the icon button IB30, the communication terminal100 ends the processing illustrated in FIG. 1. When the user presses theicon button IB31, the display 161 displays detailed information aboutthe operation of the air conditioner installed in the kitchen.

The image illustrated in FIG. 15D represents detailed information aboutthe operation of the air conditioner installed in the living room. Theimage illustrated in FIG. 15D indicates that the air conditioner in theliving room is operating in the cooling mode. The image illustrated inFIG. 15D includes information representing a set temperature, a setairflow volume, a set airflow direction, a current temperature of theliving room, and a current humidity of the living room. Thus, the useris able to visually determine that the air conditioner operating in theliving room is appropriately operating.

The image illustrated in FIG. 15D includes an icon button IB32. When theuser presses the icon button IB32, the display 161 displays the imageillustrated in FIG. 15B again.

Sixth Embodiment

A general air conditioner is able to operate in various operation modes(for example, a cooling mode, a heating mode, an automatic mode, and adry mode). If the user is allowed to change the setting of individualoperation modes from a vehicle, the user is able to enjoy a comfortableenvironment upon entering a building. In a sixth embodiment, adescription will be given of a communication terminal that allows theuser in a vehicle to change the setting of an operation mode of an airconditioner.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate images that are presented to the user bythe communication terminal 100. With reference to FIGS. 7, 8C, 8D, 14,15D, 16A, and 16B, a description will be given of the communicationterminal 100 that allows the user to change the operation mode of an airconditioner.

The user is able to display the image illustrated in FIG. 8C by usingthe method described above in relation to the third embodiment. When theuser presses the icon button IB03, the display 161 displays the imageillustrated in FIG. 8D. After that, if the user presses the icon buttonIB10, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 16A.

The image illustrated in FIG. 16A includes a setting region SR and threeicon buttons IB33, IB34, and IB35. The setting region SR includes afirst icon column FIC, a second icon column SIC, and a display windowWD05. The first icon column FIC and the second icon column SIC eachinclude a plurality of icon buttons for changing the setting of theoperation mode. The user is able to change the setting of the operationmode by operating these icon buttons. Information about the setting ofthe operation mode is displayed on the display window WD05. Thus, theuser is able to visually check the setting of the operation mode. Dataabout the setting of the operation mode is stored in the memory 140.

When the user presses the icon button IB33, the information about thesetting of the operation mode is transmitted from the communicationterminal 100 to the air conditioner group ACG via the server apparatus300. As a result, the target air conditioner changes the setting of theoperation mode.

When the user presses the icon button IB34, the display 161 displays theimage illustrated in FIG. 15D. When the user presses the icon buttonIB35, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8D again.

When receiving the information about the setting of the operation mode,the target air conditioner generates notification data indicating thatdata has been appropriately transmitted from the communication terminal100. The notification data is transmitted from the air conditioner groupACG to the communication terminal 100 via the server apparatus 300. As aresult, the data communication device 130 receives the notificationdata.

When the data communication device 130 receives the notification data,the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the image illustrated inFIG. 16B. As a result, the user is able to determine that communicationof the information about the setting of the operation mode has beenappropriately executed.

The image illustrated in FIG. 16B includes two icon buttons IB36 andIB37. When the user presses the icon button IB36, the display 161displays the image illustrated in FIG. 15D. When the user presses theicon button IB37, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG.16A again.

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal 100 that is executed when the image illustratedin FIG. 8C is displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7, 8B, 8C, 11, 13, and17, a description will be given of the processing of the communicationterminal 100.

When the user inputs the identification number and the password on theimage illustrated in FIG. 8B, step S505 is started. In step S505, theCPU 110 executes processing for reading the data described above withreference to FIG. 11 from the memory 140. After that, step S510 isexecuted.

In step S510, the CPU 110 judges whether or not the data described abovewith reference to FIG. 11 has been appropriately read. If the CPU 110fails in reading the data, step S515 is executed. Otherwise, step S520is executed.

In step S515, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display an errorimage indicating that the data has not appropriately been read. Afterthat, step S505 is executed.

In step S520, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the imagedescribed above with reference to FIG. 8C. After that, step S525 isexecuted.

In step S525, the user presses one of the icon buttons IB03 to IB09 onthe image described above with reference to FIG. 8C. After that, stepS530 is executed.

In step S530, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the iconbutton IB09 has been pressed. If the user has pressed the icon buttonIB09, step S535 is executed. Otherwise, step S540 is executed.

In step S535, the touch panel display 160 generates a notificationsignal indicating that the icon button IB09 has bee pressed. Thenotification signal is output from the touch panel display 160 to theCPU 110. The CPU 110 executes a certain background operation in responseto the notification signal and ends the processing.

In step S540, the touch panel display 160 judges whether any one of theicon buttons IB03 to IB07 has been pressed or the icon button IB08 hasbeen pressed. If the user has pressed any one of the icon buttons IB03to IB07, step S545 is executed. Otherwise, step S550 is executed.

In step S545, the display 161 displays an operation selection image forthe air conditioner corresponding to the pressed icon button (one of theicon buttons IB03 to IB07). FIG. 8D illustrates the image displayed onthe display 161 upon pressing of the icon button IB03.

In step S550, the processing described above with reference to FIG. 13is executed.

FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal 100 that is executed when the image illustratedin FIG. 8D is displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7, 8C to 8E, 14, 15D,16A, 17, and 18, a description will be given of the processing of thecommunication terminal 100.

Upon the start of step S545 described above with reference to FIG. 17,step S605 is executed. In step S605, the touch panel display 160 judgeswhether or not the user has pressed the icon button IB13 (see FIG. 8D).If the user has pressed the icon button IB13, step S610 is executed.Otherwise, step S615 is executed.

In step S610, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8C.After that, the user executes a certain operation in accordance with theflowchart described above with reference to FIG. 17.

In step S615, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB10 (see FIG. 8D). If the user wants tochange the setting of the operation mode described above with referenceto FIG. 16A, the user presses the icon button IB10. After that, stepS620 is executed. Otherwise, step S625 is executed.

In step S620, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG.16A. After that, the user changes the setting of the operation mode onthe image illustrated in FIG. 16A.

In step S625, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB11 (see FIG. 8D). If the user wants toperform the processing of registering a target appliance to be operated,which has been described above in relation to the third embodiment, theuser presses the icon button IB11. After, that, step S630 is executed.Otherwise, step S635 is executed.

In step S630, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8E.If the user presses the icon button IB14, the user is able to performthe processing of registering a target appliance to be operated, whichhas been described above in relation to the third embodiment, in orderto perform on-recommend processing. If the user presses the icon buttonIB15, the user is able to execute registration processing foroff-recommend processing.

In step S635, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB12 (see FIG. 8D). If the user wants tocheck the operation status of the air conditioner, the user presses theicon button IB12. After that, step S640 is executed. Otherwise, stepS605 is executed.

In step S640, the touch panel display 160 generates a notificationsignal indicating that the user has pressed the icon button IB12. Thenotification signal is output from the touch panel display 160 to theCPU 110. In response to the notification signal, the CPU 110 generates arequest signal for requesting notification of the operation status. Therequest signal is output from the CPU 110 to the data communicationdevice 130. After that, the request signal is transmitted from the datacommunication device 130 to the air conditioner group ACG via the serverapparatus 300. After that, step S645 is executed.

In step S645, if the air conditioner appropriately receives the requestsignal, the air conditioner generates operation data. After that, asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 14, the operation data istransmitted to the communication terminal 100 via the server apparatus300. In this case, the data communication device 130 notifies the CPU110 of the receipt of the operation data. After that, step S650 isexecuted. If the air conditioner does not appropriately receive therequest signal, or if the operation data is not appropriatelytransmitted, step S655 is executed.

In step S650, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the imageillustrated in FIG. 15D. As a result, the user is able to visually checkthe operation status of the air conditioner.

In step S655, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display an errorimage indicating that communication of the operation data has failed.After that, step S605 is executed.

FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal 100 that is executed when the image illustratedin FIG. 16A is displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7, 8D, 14, 15D, 16A,16B, 18, and 19, a description will be given of the processing of thecommunication terminal 100.

Upon the start of step S620 described above with reference to FIG. 18,step S705 is executed. In step S705, the CPU 110 requests, to the memory140, the information that is set the last time for the operation mode.After that, step S710 is executed.

In step S710, if the memory 140 does not store the information that isset the last time for the operation mode, step S715 is executed. If thememory 140 stores the information that is set the last time for theoperation mode, the CPU 110 is able to obtain the information that isset the last time for the operation mode. After that, step S720 isexecuted.

In step S715, the CPU 110 sets a default value. The CPU 110 generatesimage data using the default value. The image data is output from theCPU 110 to the touch panel display 160. The touch panel display 160displays the image illustrated in FIG. 16A on the display 161. In thiscase, the image expressed by the default value is displayed on thedisplay window WD05. After that, step S720 is executed.

In step S720, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the imageillustrated in FIG. 16A. In this case, the image generated based on theinformation that is set the last time for the operation mode isdisplayed on the display window WD05.

In step S725, the user operates the first icon column FIC and/or thesecond icon column SIC, so as to change the setting of the operationmode. After that, step S730 is executed.

In step S730, the display 161 displays the updated setting of theoperation mode. After that, step S735 is executed.

In step S735, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB35. If the user has pressed the iconbutton IB35, step S740 is executed. Otherwise, step S745 is executed.

In step S740, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8D.After that, the user performs a certain operation in accordance with theflowchart described above with reference to FIG. 18.

In step S745, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB33. If the user has pressed the iconbutton IB33, step S750 is executed. Otherwise, step S770 is executed.

In step S750, the CPU 110 transmits, from the data communication device130, the information set by the user using the touch panel display 160.After that, step S755 is executed.

In step S755, if the air conditioner receives, from the datacommunication device 130, the information set by the user using thetouch panel display 160, the air conditioner generates notification dataindicating that the information has been appropriately transmitted. Thenotification data is transmitted from the air conditioner group ACG tothe communication terminal 100 via the server apparatus 300. If the datacommunication device 130 receives the notification data, the CPU 110judges that the communication of the information set by the user usingthe touch panel display 160 has succeeded. In this case, step S760 isexecuted. Otherwise, step S765 is executed.

In step S760, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the imageillustrated in FIG. 16B. The user performs a certain operation on theimage illustrated in FIG. 16B.

In step S765, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display an errorimage indicating that the communication of the information set by theuser using the touch panel display 160 has failed. After that, step S705is executed.

In step S770, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB34 (see FIG. 16A). If the user has pressedthe icon button IB34, step S775 is executed. Otherwise, step S705 isexecuted.

In step S775, the CPU 110 generates a request signal for requestingoperation information. The request signal is output from the CPU 110 tothe data communication device 130. The data communication device 130transmits the request signal. After that, step S780 is executed.

In step S780, if the air conditioner receives the request signal fromthe data communication device 130, the air conditioner generatesoperation data representing the operation status. As described abovewith reference to FIG. 14, the operation data is transmitted from theair conditioner group ACG to the communication terminal 100 via theserver apparatus 300. If the data communication device 130 receives theoperation data, the CPU 110 judges that communication of the requestsignal has succeeded. In this case, step S785 is executed. Otherwise,step S790 is executed.

In step S785, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the imageillustrated in FIG. 15D. The user performs a certain operation on theimage illustrated in FIG. 15D.

In step S790, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display an errorimage indicating that the operation status request processing hasfailed. After that, step S705 is executed.

FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal 100 that is executed when the image illustratedin FIG. 16B is displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7, 14, 15D, 16A, 16B,19, and 20, a description will be given of the processing of thecommunication terminal 100.

Upon the start of step S760 described above with reference to FIG. 19,step S810 is executed. In step S810, the display 161 displays the imageillustrated in FIG. 16B. After that, step S820 is executed.

In step S820, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB37 (see FIG. 16B). If the user has pressedthe icon button IB37, step S830 is executed. Otherwise, step S840 isexecuted.

In step S830, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG.16A. After that, the user performs a certain operation in accordancewith the flowchart described above with reference to FIG. 19.

In step S840, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB36. If the user has pressed the iconbutton IB36, step S850 is executed. Otherwise, step S810 is executed.

In step S850, the CPU 110 generates a request signal for requestingoperation information. The request signal is output from the CPU 110 tothe data communication device 130. The data communication device 130transmits the request signal. After that, step S860 is executed.

In step S860, if the air conditioner receives the request signal fromthe data communication device 130, the air conditioner generatesoperation data representing the operation status. As described abovewith reference to FIG. 14, the operation data is transmitted from theair conditioner group ACG to the communication terminal 100 via theserver apparatus 300. If the data communication device 130 receives theoperation data, the CPU 110 judges that communication of the requestsignal has succeeded. In this case, step S870 is executed. Otherwise,step S880 is executed.

In step S870, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the imageillustrated in FIG. 15D. The user performs a certain operation on theimage illustrated in FIG. 15D.

In step S880, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display an errorimage indicating that the operation status request processing hasfailed. After that, step S810 is executed.

FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing of thecommunication terminal 100 that is executed when the image illustratedin FIG. 15D is displayed. With reference to FIGS. 7, 8D, 15B to 16B, and21, a description will be given of the processing of the communicationterminal 100.

When the icon button IB12 illustrated in FIG. 8D, the icon button IB29illustrated in FIG. 15B, the icon button IB31 illustrated in FIG. 15C,the icon button IB34 illustrated in FIG. 16A, or the icon button IB36illustrated in FIG. 16B is pressed by the user, step S910 is executed.In step S910, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG.15D. After that, step S920 is executed.

In step S920, the touch panel display 160 judges whether or not the userhas pressed the icon button IB37. If the user has pressed the iconbutton IB37, step S930 is executed. Otherwise, step S910 is executed.

In step S930, the display 161 displays one of the images illustrated inFIGS. 8D, 15B, 15C, 16A, and 16B. After that, the user performs acertain operation on the displayed image.

Seventh Embodiment

The application program described above in relation to the thirdembodiment requires processing for authenticating the user every timethe user starts the application program. The user may find itinconvenient to perform an input operation for authenticationprocessing. In a seventh embodiment, a description will be given of anapplication program that allows the user to omit an input operation forauthentication processing.

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate exemplary images that are displayed on thedisplay 161 when the user uses the application program. With referenceto FIGS. 7 to 8C, 22A, and 22B, a description will be given of theapplication program.

When the user double-clicks the icon ION in the image illustrated inFIG. 8A, the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 22A.Like the image illustrated in FIG. 8B, the image illustrated in FIG. 22Aincludes the input windows WD01 and WD02 and the icon buttons IB01 andIB02.

The image illustrated in FIG. 22A includes an icon button IB38 and acheck box CBX. When the user presses the icon button IB38, the display161 displays an explanation about an operation to be performed on theimage illustrated in FIG. 22A. Thus, the user is able to easily use theapplication program. If the user checks the check box CBX, the user isable to display the image illustrated in FIG. 22B on the display 161without displaying the image illustrated in FIG. 22A in the subsequentuse. That is, the display 161 is able to directly change the imagedisplayed thereon from the image illustrated in FIG. 8A to the imageillustrated in FIG. 22B.

The image illustrated in FIG. 22B includes, in addition to the iconbuttons in the image illustrated in FIG. 8C, a scroll bar SRB and anicon button IB39 used by the user to log out. If the user owns many airconditioners, the user is able to display icon buttons representingtarget air conditioners on the display 161 by operating the scroll barSRB. The user is able to end the application program by pressing theicon button IB39.

Eighth Embodiment

Different from change of a setting for an operation mode of an airconditioner and checking of an operation status of an air conditioner,the setting of an air conditioner (the setting for specifying acandidate appliance to be operated) described above in relation to thethird embodiment is not frequently performed. Thus, an applicationprogram may be designed so that the user visually recognizes that anicon button used for a setting to specify a candidate appliance to beoperated belongs to a category that is different from a categoryincluding an icon button used to change the setting for an operationmode of an air conditioner and an icon button used to check an operationstatus. In an eighth embodiment, a description will be given of anapplication program that allows the user to visually recognize that anicon button used for a setting to specify a candidate appliance to beoperated belongs to a category that is different from a categoryincluding an icon button used to change the setting for an operationmode of an air conditioner and an icon button used to check an operationstatus.

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the display161 when the user uses the application program. With reference to FIGS.7, 8D, 8E, and 23, a description will be given of the applicationprogram.

Like the image illustrated in FIG. 8D, the image illustrated in FIG. 23includes the icon buttons IB10, IB12, and IB13. The image illustrated inFIG. 23 includes an icon button IB40 instead of the icon button IB11 inthe image illustrated in FIG. 8D. The icon button IB40 is displayedbelow the icon buttons IB10 and IB12. In addition, the icon button IB40is different from the icon buttons IB10 and IB12 in shape and size. Thecharacters “initial setting” are written on the icon button IB40, andthus the user is able to visually recognize that the icon button IB40need not be frequently used. When the user presses the icon button IB40,the display 161 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8E.

Ninth Embodiment

An application program may be designed so that the user is able to makea setting of a candidate appliance to be operated and to cancel thesetting on one screen. In a ninth embodiment, a description will begiven of an application program that allows the user to make a settingof a candidate appliance to be operated and to cancel the setting on onescreen.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the display161 when the user uses the application program. With reference to FIGS.7, 8F, 11, and 24, a description will be given of the applicationprogram.

Like the image illustrated in FIG. 8F, the image illustrated in FIG. 24includes the display windows WD03 and WD04 and the icon buttons IB17,IB18, IB19, IB20, and IB22. The image illustrated in FIG. 24 includesicon buttons IB41 and IB42 instead of the icon button IB21 in the imageillustrated in FIG. 8F. When the user presses the icon button IB41, thetarget air conditioner is registered as a candidate appliance to beoperated. Data indicating that the target air conditioner has beenregistered as a candidate appliance to be operated is stored in thememory 140. When the user presses the icon button IB42, the registrationof the target air conditioner as a candidate appliance to be operated iscancelled. In this case, the data stored in the memory 140 (see FIG. 11)is updated so that the registration of the target air conditioner as acandidate appliance to be operated is erased.

Tenth Embodiment

As described above in relation to the fourth embodiment, the user isable to register the position of a target building by using theapplication program. The application program may allow the user to set acontrol region around the position of the target building, as well asthe position of the target building. In a tenth embodiment, adescription will be given of an application program that allows the userto set a control region, as well as the position of the target building.

FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary image that is displayed on the display161 when the user uses the application program. With reference to FIGS.3A, 7, 12, and 25, a description will be given of the applicationprogram.

Like the image illustrated in FIG. 12, the image illustrated in FIG. 25includes the icon buttons IB23, IB24, and IB25. The image illustrated inFIG. 25 further includes icon buttons IB43 and IB44 and a display windowWD06.

The user is able to set a circular control region CR around the positionof the building HM by operating the icon buttons IB43 and IB44. Theradius of the control region CR is displayed on the display window WD06.

After that, when the user presses the icon button IB23, informationrepresenting the position of the building HM and informationrepresenting the circular control region CR around the building HM arestored in the memory 140. When the user presses the icon button IB24,the information representing the position of the building HM and theinformation representing the circular control region CR around thebuilding HM are erased from the memory 140.

Eleventh Embodiment

The communication terminal described above in relation to the fifthembodiment displays only once an image for asking the user whether ornot to execute a remote operation. If the communication terminal asksthe user a plurality of times whether or not to execute a remoteoperation, a remote operation against user's intention is less likely tooccur. In an eleventh embodiment, a description will be given of acommunication terminal that asks the user a plurality of times whetheror not to execute a remote operation.

FIGS. 26A to 26D illustrate exemplary images that are presented to theuser by the communication terminal 100. With reference to FIGS. 1, 14,15B, and 26A to 26D, a description will be given of the communicationterminal 100.

As in the fifth embodiment, the communication terminal 100 presents theimage illustrated in FIG. 26A to the user. When the user presses theicon button IB26, the communication terminal 100 presents the imageillustrated in FIG. 26B to the user.

The image illustrated in FIG. 26B includes two icon buttons IB45 andIB46. When the user presses the icon button IB45, the communicationterminal 100 transmits control data. When the user presses the iconbutton IB46, the communication terminal 100 suspends processing. Thecontrol data is transmitted only when the user presses the icon buttonIB26 in the image illustrated in FIG. 26A and then presses the iconbutton IB45 in the image illustrated in FIG. 26B. Thus, a remoteoperation against user's intention is less likely to occur.

When the communication terminal 100 receives notification datarepresenting the receipt of the control data for an air conditioner, thecommunication terminal 100 presents the image illustrated in FIG. 26C tothe user. Like the image illustrated in FIG. 15B, the image illustratedin FIG. 26C includes the icon button IB29. Unlike in the imageillustrated in FIG. 15B, the icon button IB28 is not provided in theimage illustrated in FIG. 266.

When the user presses the icon button IB29, the communication terminal100 presents the image illustrated in FIG. 26D to the user. Even if theuser does not press the icon button IB29, the communication terminal 100presents the image illustrated in FIG. 26D to the user after a certainperiod has elapsed from the time when the image illustrated in FIG. 26Cis displayed. Thus, the user is able to check the operation status ofthe target air conditioner.

Twelfth Embodiment

A designer is able to design a communication terminal having variousfunctions on the basis of the design principle of the communicationterminal described above in relation to the second embodiment. In atwelfth embodiment, a description will be given of an exemplarycommunication terminal.

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a communication terminal 100A according tothe twelfth embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 7, 11, 14, and 27, adescription will be given of the exemplary functional configuration ofthe communication terminal 100A.

The communication terminal 100A includes a control unit 111, a judgingunit 112, a first obtaining unit 113, a communication unit 131, a firststorage unit 143, a second storage unit 144, a second obtaining unit151, a display unit 163, and an input unit 164. The control unit 111controls the overall operation of the communication terminal 100A. Thus,the judging unit 112, the first obtaining unit 113, the communicationunit 131, the first storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, thesecond obtaining unit 151, the display unit 163, and the input unit 164execute certain operations under the control executed by the controlunit 111.

The control unit 111, the judging unit 112, and the first obtaining unit113 correspond to the CPU 110 described above with reference to FIG. 7.The judging unit 112 executes judgment processing executed by the CPU110. The first obtaining unit 113 generates a request signal forrequesting an operation status to an air conditioner.

The communication unit 131 corresponds to the data communication device130 described above with reference to FIG. 7. The communication unit 131transmits various signals (for example, the request signal generated bythe first obtaining unit 113) to the server apparatus 300 describedabove with reference to FIG. 14. In addition, the communication unit 131receives various signals (for example, operation data generated inresponse to the request signal) from the server apparatus 300.

The first storage unit 143 and the second storage unit 144 correspond tothe memory 140 described above with reference to FIG. 7. The firststorage unit 143 stores the data described above with reference to FIG.11. The second storage unit 144 stores information about the position ofthe building HM set by the user by using the method described above inrelation to the fourth embodiment.

The second obtaining unit 151 corresponds to the information obtainingdevice 150 described above with reference to FIG. 7. The secondobtaining unit 151 obtains information about the position of a vehicle.The second obtaining unit 151 may be a GPS device of a car navigationsystem that is typically mounted in a vehicle. The principle of thisembodiment is not limited by a specific device used as the secondobtaining unit 151.

The display unit 163 and the input unit 164 correspond to the touchpanel display 160 described above with reference to FIG. 7. The displayunit 163 corresponds to the display 161 described above with referenceto FIG. 7. The display unit 163 may be a display of a car navigationsystem. Alternatively, the display unit 163 may be a display of asmartphone or another mobile terminal. The principle of this embodimentis not limited by a specific device used as the display unit 163.

The input unit 164 may be integrated with the display unit 163. In thiscase, the input unit 164 corresponds to the operation detection sensor162. Alternatively, the input unit 164 may be a device separated fromthe display unit 163. Thus, the input unit 164 may be a keyboard, amouse device, or another input device. The principle of this embodimentis not limited by a specific device used as the input unit 164.

Thirteenth Embodiment

As described above in relation to the fifth embodiment, thecommunication terminal transmits various signals to and receives varioussignals from the server apparatus. In a thirteenth embodiment, adescription will be given of an exemplary server apparatus.

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a server apparatus 300A according to thethirteenth embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B, 14, 15A, 27,and 28, a description will be given of the exemplary functionalconfiguration of the server apparatus 300A.

The server apparatus 300A is available as the server apparatus 300described above with reference to FIG. 14. The server apparatus 300A isdesigned to transmit various signals to and receive various signals fromthe communication terminal 100A described above with reference to FIG.27.

The server apparatus 300A includes a control unit 310, a communicationunit 320, a notifying unit 330, and an estimating unit 340. The controlunit 310 controls the overall operation of the server apparatus 300A.Thus, the communication unit 320, the notifying unit 330, and theestimating unit 340 execute certain operations under the controlexecuted by the control unit 310.

The communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300A receives controldata from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A.The communication unit 320 transmits the control data to the airconditioner group ACG. The air conditioners in the air conditioner groupACG that have received the control data generate notification datarepresenting the receipt of the control data. The notification datarepresenting the receipt of the control data is transmitted from the airconditioners in the air conditioner group ACG to the communication unit320 of the server apparatus 300A. The communication unit 320 of theserver apparatus 300A transmits the notification data representing thereceipt of the control data to the communication unit 131 of thecommunication terminal 100A.

After the control data has been transmitted to the air conditioner groupACG, if the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300A does notreceive notification data representing the receipt of the control datafor a certain period, the control unit 310 causes the notifying unit 330to generate notification data. The notification data generated by thecontrol unit 310 indicates that communication of the control data hasfailed. The notification data is output from the notifying unit 330 ofthe server apparatus 300A to the communication unit 320 of the serverapparatus 300A. The communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300Atransmits the notification data to the communication unit 131 of thecommunication terminal 100A.

The control unit 111 of the communication terminal 100A readsinformation about the position of the building HM from the secondstorage unit 144. The information about the position of the building HMis output from the control unit 111 of the communication terminal 100Ato the communication unit 131. The information about the position of thebuilding HM is then transmitted from the communication unit 131 of thecommunication terminal 100A to the communication unit 320 of the serverapparatus 300A. The information about the position of the building HM isoutput from the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300A tothe estimating unit 340. Accordingly, the estimating unit 340 is able toobtain the information about the position of the building HM.

The second obtaining unit 151 of the communication terminal 100Agenerates position data representing the position of the vehicle VC. Theposition data is output from the second obtaining unit 151 to thecommunication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A. Thecommunication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A transmits theposition data to the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus300A. The position data is then output from the communication unit 320of the server apparatus 300A to the estimating unit 340. Accordingly,the estimating unit 340 is able to obtain the information about theposition of the vehicle VC, as well as the information about theposition of the building HM and the information about the control regionCR.

The estimating unit 340 is able to determine, by using the informationabout the position of the building HM and the information about theposition of the vehicle VC, whether the vehicle VC is running away fromor approaching the building HM. If the vehicle VC is running away fromthe building HM, the estimating unit 340 is able to estimate that thedestination of the vehicle VC is not the building HM. If the vehicle VCis approaching the building HM, the estimating unit 340 is able toestimate that the destination of the vehicle VC is the building HM. Atrigger signal is output from the estimating unit 340 to thecommunication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300A.

The communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300A transmits thetrigger signal to the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100A. After the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100A has received the trigger signal, the control unit 111 ofthe communication terminal 100A causes the display unit 163 to displaythe image illustrated in FIG. 15A. That is, the communication terminal100A switches the processing described above with reference to FIG. 1from step S120 to step S130 in response to the trigger signal.

Fourteenth Embodiment

As described above in relation to the fifth embodiment, the airconditioners transmit various signals to and receive various signalsfrom the server apparatus. In a fourteenth embodiment, a descriptionwill be given of an exemplary air conditioner.

FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of an air conditioner 400A according to thefourteenth embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 14, 28, and 29, adescription will be given of the exemplary functional configuration ofthe air conditioner 400A.

The air conditioner 400A is available as an air conditioner in the airconditioner group ACG described above with reference to FIG. 14. The airconditioner 400A is designed to transmit various signals to and receivevarious signals from the server apparatus 300A described above withreference to FIG. 29.

The air conditioner 400A includes a control unit 410, a communicationunit 420, a temperature data generating unit 430, an operation unit 440,an operation data generating unit 450, and a notifying unit 460. Thecontrol unit 410 controls the overall operation of the air conditioner400A. Thus, the communication unit 420, the temperature data generatingunit 430, the operation unit 440, the operation data generating unit450, and the notifying unit 460 execute certain operations under thecontrol executed by the control unit 410.

The communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives controldata from the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300A. Thecontrol unit 410 causes the operation unit 440 to execute an operationdefined by the control data. The operation data generating unit 450generates operation data representing the operation status of theoperation unit 440. The operation data is output from the operation datagenerating unit 450 to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner400A. The communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A transmitsthe operation data to the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus300A.

The temperature data generating unit 430 measures a temperature aroundthe air conditioner 400A. The temperature data generating unit 430generates temperature data representing the measured temperature. Thetemperature data is also transmitted from the communication unit 420 ofthe air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 320 of the serverapparatus 300A.

The notifying unit 460 generates notification data for making anotification that the control data has been received by the airconditioner 400A. The notification data is output from the notifyingunit 460 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 420 ofthe air conditioner 400A. The communication unit 420 of the airconditioner 400A transmits the notification data to the communicationunit 320 of the server apparatus 300A.

Fifteenth Embodiment

The control region described above in relation to the first embodimentis not necessarily defined along a driving path of the vehicle. Thus,the vehicle may run along a boundary of the control region. In thiscase, the vehicle may enter the control region a plurality of times. Ifthe communication terminal asks, every time the vehicle enters thecontrol region, whether or not a remote operation is necessary, the usermay find such frequent inquiries from the communication terminalirksome. In a fifteenth embodiment, a description will be given of acommunication terminal that does not ask extremely frequently whether ornot a remote operation is necessary.

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a communication terminal 100B according tothe fifteenth embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 1, 7, 15A, 15D, 28,and 30, a description will be given of the exemplary functionalconfiguration of the communication terminal 100B. In the fifteenthembodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the twelfthembodiment indicate that the elements denoted by the same referencenumerals have the same functions as those in the twelfth embodiment.Thus, the description of the twelfth embodiment is applied to theseelements.

As in the twelfth embodiment, the communication terminal 100B includesthe first obtaining unit 113, the communication unit 131, the firststorage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the second obtaining unit151, the display unit 163, and the input unit 164. The description ofthe twelfth embodiment is applied to these elements.

The communication terminal 100B further includes a control unit 111B, ajudging unit 112B, and a timing unit 114. The control unit 111B and thetiming unit 114 correspond to the CPU 110 described above with referenceto FIG. 7.

The control unit 111B controls the overall operation of thecommunication terminal 100B. Thus, the judging unit 112B, the firstobtaining unit 113, the timing unit 114, the communication unit 131, thefirst storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the secondobtaining unit 151, the display unit 163, and the input unit 164 executecertain operations under the control executed by the control unit 111B.

The control unit 111B activates the timing unit 114 at the time when thedisplay unit 163 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 15A. The timingunit 114 may be a timer that operates only in a certain period TP. Inthis embodiment, the certain period is exemplified as a thresholdperiod.

If the timer is operating when the communication unit 131 of thecommunication terminal 100B receives a trigger generated by theestimating unit 340 of the server apparatus 300A, the judging unit 112Bmay judge that the image illustrated in FIG. 15A need not be displayed.Thus, the communication terminal 100B ends the processing without stepS130 described above with reference to FIG. 1 being executed.

FIG. 31 is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle VC that runs near aboundary of the control region CR. With reference to FIGS. 15A, 30, and31, a further description will be given of the communication terminal100B.

The vehicle VC illustrated in FIG. 31 enters the control region CR attime t0. After that, the vehicle VC goes out of the control region CR,and enters the control region CR again at time t1. If the differencebetween time t1 and time t0 is under the threshold period defined by thetiming unit 114, the display unit 163 does not display the imageillustrated in FIG. 15A at time t1. If the difference between time t1and time t0 exceeds the threshold period defined by the timing unit 114,the display unit 163 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 15A.

FIG. 32 is a schematic flowchart illustrating processing executed by thecommunication terminal 100B. With reference to FIGS. 1, 30, and 32, adescription will be given of the operation of the communication terminal100B.

In step S1110, the communication terminal 100B executes the series ofprocessing operations described above with reference to FIG. 1(on-recommend processing). After that, step S1120 is executed.

In step S1120, the communication terminal 100B waits for a certainperiod. After that, step S1110 is executed.

Sixteenth Embodiment

The communication terminal described above in relation to the fifteenthembodiment is able to operate in accordance with the operation principledescribed above in relation to the first embodiment. In a sixteenthembodiment, a description will be given of the operation of thecommunication terminal.

FIG. 33 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation ofthe communication terminal 100B. With reference to FIGS. 1, 15A, 30, and33, a description will be given of the exemplary operation of thecommunication terminal 100B.

In step S1210, the communication terminal 100B executes on-recommendjudgment processing. The on-recommend judgment processing corresponds tosteps S110 and S120 described above with reference to FIG. 1. After theon-recommend judgment processing, step S1220 is executed.

In step S1220, the communication terminal 100B executes image displayjudgment processing. The image display judgment processing is executedto determine whether or not the image illustrated in FIG. 15A is to bedisplayed. After the image display judgment processing, step S1230 isexecuted.

In step S1230, if the image illustrated in FIG. 15A is displayed, stepS1240 is executed. Otherwise, the communication terminal 100B ends theprocessing.

In step S1240, the user determines whether or not to perform a remoteoperation. If the user presses the icon button IB26 illustrated in FIG.15A, the on-recommend processing ends. If the user presses the iconbutton IB27 illustrated in FIG. 15A, remote operation processing isexecuted. The remote operation processing corresponds to steps S130 toS150 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

Seventeenth Embodiment

In the on-recommend judgment processing described above in relation tothe sixteenth embodiment, the communication terminal executes variousprocessing operations in cooperation with the server apparatus. In aseventeenth embodiment, a description will be given of on-recommendjudgment processing.

FIG. 34 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the on-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 28, 30, 31, and 34, adescription will be given of the on-recommend judgment processing.

In step S1310, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the currentprocessing is the first on-recommend judgment processing after thesetting of the control region CR. If on-recommend judgment processinghas already been executed after the setting of the control region CR,step S1320 is executed. If the current processing is the firston-recommend judgment processing, step S1330 is executed.

In step S1320, the judging unit 112B judges whether or nota certainperiod has elapsed since the execution of the previous on-recommendprocessing. If the certain period has elapsed since the execution of theprevious on-recommend processing, step S1330 is executed. Otherwise, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1330, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B toread data representing the air conditioners owned by the user (see FIG.11) from the first storage unit 143. After that, step S1340 is executed.

In step S1340, the communication terminal 100B executes certain judgmentprocessing for the air conditioners. After the judgment processing forthe air conditioners, step S1350 is executed.

In step S1350, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the result ofthe judgment processing in step S1340 represents the existence of afirst candidate appliance. The term “first candidate appliance” means anair conditioner that satisfies a start condition. If the result of thejudgment processing represents the existence of a first candidateappliance, step S1360 is executed, Otherwise, the communication terminal100B ends the processing.

In step S1360, the estimating unit 340 of the server apparatus 300Aexecutes estimation processing for the destination of the vehicle VC.After the estimation processing, step S1370 is executed.

In step S1370, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not thedestination of the vehicle VC is the target building. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the destination of the vehicle VC is the targetbuilding, step S1380 is executed. Otherwise, the communication terminal100B ends the processing.

In step S1380, processing for judging the position of the vehicle VCrelative to the control region CR is executed.

FIG. 35 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1340 described above with reference to FIG. 34. With reference to FIGS.11, 28 to 31, 34, and 35, a further description will be given of theon-recommend judgment processing.

In step S1341, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bgenerates a request signal for requesting temperature data. After that,the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes thecommunication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmitthe request signal. The request signal is transmitted from thecommunication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the serverapparatus 300A. When the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner400A receives the request signal, the control unit 410 of the airconditioner 400A causes the temperature data generating unit 430 togenerate temperature data representing a temperature of the space wherethe air conditioner 400A is placed. The temperature data generating unit430 outputs the temperature data to the communication unit 420. Thetemperature data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of theair conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B via the server apparatus 300A. When the communication unit131 of the communication terminal 100B receives the temperature data,step S1342 is executed.

In step S1342, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads data about a start condition from the first storage unit 143.After that, step S1343 is executed.

In step S1343, the judging unit 112B compares the temperature data withthe data about the start condition. If the temperature data satisfiesthe start condition, step S1344 is executed. Otherwise, step S1345 isexecuted. For example, if the temperature of the living room is 30° C.,step S1344 is executed in the processing for the air conditionerinstalled in the living room illustrated in FIG. 11. If the temperatureof the living room is 22° C., step S1345 is executed in the processingfor the air conditioner installed in the living room illustrated in FIG.11.

In step S1344, the air conditioner as the processing target is selectedas a first candidate appliance. Information about the air conditionerselected as a first candidate appliance is temporarily stored in thefirst storage unit 143. After that, step S1345 is executed.

In step S1345, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not theprocessing has been completed for all the air conditioners owned by theuser. If the processing has not been completed for all the airconditioners owned by the user, step S1342 is executed. Otherwise, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the processing in step S1340 describedabove with reference to FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1360 described above with reference to FIG. 34. With reference to FIGS.28, 30, 34, and 36, a further description will be given of theon-recommend judgment processing.

In step S1361, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests the second obtaining unit 151 of the communication terminal100B to generate position information about the position of the vehicle.The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads positioninformation about the position of the target building from the secondstorage unit 144 of the communication terminal 100B. After that, stepS1362 is executed.

In step S1362, the position information about the vehicle and buildingis output from the second obtaining unit 151 of the communicationterminal 100B to the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B. The position information about the vehicle and buildingis transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B to the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus300A. After that, step S1363 is executed.

In step S1363, when the communication unit 320 of the server apparatus300A receives the position information about the vehicle and building,the control unit 310 of the server apparatus 300A causes the estimatingunit 340 to estimate the destination of the vehicle. If the positioninformation indicates that the vehicle is going away from the building,the estimating unit 340 may judge that the destination of the vehicle isnot the building. If the position information indicates that the vehicleis approaching the building, the estimating unit 340 may judge that thedestination of the vehicle is the building. Data representing thejudgment result is transmitted from the communication unit 320 of theserver apparatus 300A to the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B. The estimating unit 340 may estimate the destination ofthe vehicle by using another method. The principle of this embodiment isnot limited by a specific method for estimating the destination of thevehicle.

FIG. 37 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1380 described above with reference to FIG. 34. With reference to FIGS.25, 30, 33, 34, and 37, a further description will be given of theon-recommend judgment processing. In this embodiment, the secondjudgment step is exemplified by step S1380 described above withreference to FIG. 34.

In step S1381, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads position information about the position of the target building andthe radius of the control region from the second storage unit 144. InFIG. 37, the position of the building is represented by a symbol “P0”.In FIG. 37, the radius of the control region is represented by a symbol“R”. Under the setting illustrated in FIG. 25, “R” is “5 km”. After theposition information has been read, step S1382 is executed. In thisembodiment, second position information is exemplified by the positioninformation about the position of the target building and the radius ofthe control region read from the second storage unit 144.

In step S1382, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests the second obtaining unit 151 to generate position informationabout the position of the vehicle. The communication terminal 100Bhandles the position of the vehicle represented by the positioninformation obtained in step S1382 as a reference position. In FIG. 37,the reference position is represented by a symbol “P1”. After theposition information about the position of the vehicle has beengenerated, step S1383 is executed. In this embodiment, first positioninformation is exemplified by the position information about theposition of the vehicle.

In step 1383, the communication terminal 100B executes wait processing.A waiting time may be constant. Alternatively, the waiting time may bechanged in accordance with the velocity of the vehicle. The principle ofthis embodiment is not limited by a waiting time. After the waiting timehas elapsed, step S1384 is executed.

In step S1384, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests again the second obtaining unit 151 to generate positioninformation about the position of the vehicle. The communicationterminal 100B handles the position of the vehicle represented by theposition information obtained in step S1384 as a judged position. InFIG. 37, the judged position is represented by a symbol “P2”. After theposition information about the position of the vehicle has beengenerated, step S1385 is executed. In this embodiment, the firstposition information is exemplified by the position information aboutthe position of the vehicle.

In step S1385, if the difference between the position of the vehicle“P1” and the position of the building “P0” is larger than the radius “R”of the control region and if the difference between the position of thevehicle “P2” and the position of the building “P0” is smaller than theradius “R” of the control region, step S1386 is executed. Otherwise,step S1387 is executed.

In step S1386, the control unit 111B of the control terminal 100Bdetermines to continue the processing. Thus, after step S1386, stepS1220 described above with reference to FIG. 33 is executed.

In step S1387, the judging unit 112B determines to handle the judgedposition P2 as the reference position P1. After that, step S1383 isexecuted.

Eighteenth Embodiment

In the image display judgment processing described above in relation tothe sixteenth embodiment, it is determined whether or not an imageprompting the user to judge whether or not to execute a remote operationis to be displayed. In an eighteenth embodiment, a description will begiven of the image display judgment processing.

FIG. 38A is a table showing the data about air conditioners stored inthe first storage unit 143 in step S1344 described above with referenceto FIG. 35. FIG. 38B is a table showing the air conditioners that havebeen determined as target appliances to be operated through the imagedisplay judgment processing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 30, 33, 35,38A, and 38B, a description will be given of the image judgmentprocessing.

If the temperature data represents a temperature of 26° C., as a resultof the processing in step S1344 executed under the settings illustratedin FIG. 11, the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen,and child's room 2 are selected as first candidate appliances.

If the air conditioner installed in the child's room 2 is operating, itis not necessary to execute step S1240 described above with reference toFIG. 33. Thus, the judging unit 112B excludes the air conditionerinstalled in the child's room 2 from the target appliances to beoperated.

FIG. 39 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the image display judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 15A, 28 to 30, 33, and 38A to39, a description will be given of the image display judgmentprocessing.

In step S1221, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads the data about the first candidate appliances from the firststorage unit 143. After that, step S1222 is executed.

In step S1222, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bgenerates a request signal for requesting operation data. The controlunit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communicationunit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to output the requestsignal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 ofthe air conditioner 400A via the server apparatus 300A. When thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the requestsignal, the control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes theoperation data generating unit 450 to generate operation data. Thecontrol unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the communicationunit 420 of the air conditioner 400 A to transmit the operation data.The operation data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of theair conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B via the server apparatus 300A. After that, step S1223 isexecuted.

In step S1223, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B tojudge, on the basis of the operation data, whether or not the airconditioner 400A as the processing target is operating. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the air conditioner 400A as the processing targetis operating, step S1224 is executed. Otherwise, step S1225 is executed.

In step S1224, the judging unit 112B determines to handle the airconditioner 400A as the processing target as a second candidateappliance. After that, step S1225 is executed.

In step S1225, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not theabove-described processing has been completed for all the firstcandidate appliances. If the above-described processing has beencompleted for all the first candidate appliances, step S1226 isexecuted. Otherwise, step S1222 is executed. If the air conditionersillustrated in FIG. 38A are selected as first candidate appliances, andif the above-described processing has been completed for the airconditioners installed in the living room, kitchen, and child's room 2,step S1225 is executed.

In step S1226, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not an airconditioner selected as a second candidate appliance includes an airconditioner set by the user as a candidate appliance to be operated. Ifan air conditioner selected as a second candidate appliance includes anair conditioner set by the user as a candidate appliance to be operated,the judging unit 112B temporarily stores information about the airconditioner selected as a second candidate appliance and set by the useras a candidate appliance to be operated in the first storage unit 143.After that, step S1227 is executed. Otherwise, the control unit 111Bsuspends the processing. When the data illustrated in FIG. 38A iscompared with the data illustrated in FIG. 11, the air conditionersinstalled in the living room, kitchen, and child's room 2 are set by theuser as candidate appliances to be operated, and thus step S1227 isexecuted.

In step S1227, the control unit 111B causes the display unit 163 todisplay the image illustrated in FIG. 15A. After that, step S1230described above with reference to FIG. 33 is executed.

Nineteenth Embodiment

In the image display judgment processing described above in relation tothe eighteenth embodiment, if the communication terminal is able todetermine a target appliance to be operated, processing for remotelyoperating the target appliance to be operated is executed. In anineteenth embodiment, a description will be given of the processing forremotely operating the target appliance to be operated.

FIG. 40 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing executed instep S1240 described above with reference to FIG. 33. With reference toFIGS. 15A to 15C, 28 to 30, 33, 38B, 39, and 40, a description will begiven of the processing executed in step S1240.

In step S1241, if the user presses the icon button IB27 (see FIG. 15A),the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads the dataabout all the air conditioners selected as target appliances to beoperated (see FIG. 38B) from the first storage unit 143. The data readfrom the first storage unit 143 may include setting data defining theoperations of the air conditioners selected as target appliances to beoperated. After the control unit 111B has read the data about all theair conditioners selected as target appliances to be operated, stepS1242 is executed.

In step S1242, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B totransmit the read setting data as control data. The control data istransmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400Avia the server apparatus 300A. When the communication unit 420 of theair conditioner 400A receives the control data, the operation unit 440of the air conditioner 400A executes an operation defined by the controldata. The notifying unit 460 of the air conditioner 400A generatesnotification data indicating that the control data has been received.The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit thenotification data. The notification data is transmitted from thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communicationunit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server apparatus300A. After that, step S1243 is executed.

In step S1243, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the display unit 163 to display images representing acommunication result of the control data (see FIGS. 15B and 15C) inaccordance with the notification data. After that, step S1244 isexecuted.

In step S1244, the communication terminal 100B judges whether or not theuser requests operation data. If the user requests operation data (ifthe user presses the icon buttons IB29 and IB31 (see FIGS. 15B and 15C),step S1245 is executed. Otherwise, step S1247 is executed.

In step S1245, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bgenerates a request signal for requesting operation data. The controlunit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communicationunit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit the requestsignal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 ofthe air conditioner 400A via the server apparatus 300A. In response tothe request signal, the control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400Acauses the operation data generating unit 450 to generate operationdata. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit theoperation data. The operation data is transmitted from the communicationunit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 ofthe communication terminal 100B via the server apparatus 300A. Afterthat, step S1246 is executed. In this embodiment, an obtaining step isexemplified by step S1245.

In step S1246, the control unit 111B causes the display unit 163 todisplay the operation status represented by the operation data. Afterthat, step S1247 is executed.

In step S1247, the judging unit 112B of the communication terminal 100Bjudges whether or not the above-described processing has been executedon all the target appliances to be operated.

Twentieth Embodiment

In the on-recommend judgment processing described above in relation tothe seventeenth embodiment, judgment processing for an air conditioneris executed before judgment processing for the position of the vehicle.Alternatively, judgment processing for an air conditioner may beexecuted after judgment processing for the position of the vehicle. In atwentieth embodiment, a description will be given of other on-recommendjudgment processing.

FIG. 41 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the on-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 28, 30, 31, 35 to 37, and 41, adescription will be given of the on-recommend judgment processing.

In step S1410, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the currentprocessing is the first on-recommend judgment processing after thesetting of the control region CR. If on-recommend judgment processinghas already been executed after the setting of the control region CR,step S1420 is executed. If the current processing is the firston-recommend judgment processing, step S1430 is executed.

In step S1420, the judging unit 112B judges whether or nota certainperiod has elapsed since the execution of the previous on-recommendprocessing. If the certain period has elapsed since the execution of theprevious on-recommend processing, step S1430 is executed. Otherwise, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1430, the estimating unit 340 of the server apparatus 300Aexecutes the estimation processing described above with reference toFIG. 36. After the estimation processing, step S1440 is executed.

In step S1440, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not thedestination of the vehicle VC is the target building. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the destination of the vehicle VC is the targetbuilding, step S1450 is executed. Otherwise, the communication terminal100B ends the processing.

In step S1450, the processing described above with reference to FIG. 37is executed, and it is judged whether or not the vehicle VC has enteredthe control region CR. After that, step S1460 is executed.

In step S1460, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B toread the data representing the air conditioners owned by the user (seeFIG. 11) from the first storage unit 143. After that, step S1470 isexecuted.

In step S1470, the communication terminal 100B executes the judgmentprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 35.

Twenty-First Embodiment

In the above-described various embodiments, judgment processing for theposition of the vehicle is executed. Thus, if the user does not make asetting in advance for the position of the target building, it ispreferable to suspend on-recommend judgment processing before thecommunication terminal executes various processing operations. Inaddition, if judgment processing for the position of the vehicle isexecuted, estimation processing for the destination of the vehicle isnot necessarily executed. Thus, the on-recommend judgment processing maybe greatly simplified. In a twenty-first embodiment, a description willbe given of simplified on-recommend judgment processing.

FIG. 42 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the on-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 25, 30, 31, 35, 37, and 42,a description will be given of the on-recommend judgment processing.

In step S1510, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the currentprocessing is the first on-recommend judgment processing after thesetting of the control region CR. If on-recommend judgment processinghas already been executed after the setting of the control region CR,step S1520 is executed. If the current processing is the firston-recommend judgment processing, step S1530 is executed.

In step S1520, the judging unit 112B judges whether or nota certainperiod has elapsed since the execution of the previous on-recommendprocessing. If the certain period has elapsed since the execution of theprevious on-recommend processing, step S1530 is executed. Otherwise, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1530, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads the data about the building HM from the second storage unit 144.If the user has not made the setting described above with reference toFIGS. 12 and 25, the control unit 111B is not able to read the dataabout the building HM, and thus the on-recommend judgment processing issuspended. If the control unit 111B reads the data about the building HMfrom the second storage unit 144, step S1540 is executed.

In step S1540, the processing described above with reference to FIG. 37is executed, and it is judged whether or not the vehicle VC has enteredthe control region CR. After that, step S1550 is executed.

In step S1550, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B toread the data representing the air conditioners owned by the user (seeFIG. 11) from the first storage unit 143. After that, step S1560 isexecuted.

In step S1560, the communication terminal 100B executes the judgmentprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 35.

Twenty-Second Embodiment

A communication terminal may obtain information about an outsidetemperature without communicating with an air conditioner. In this case,a temperature outside a vehicle and a building is obtained by thecommunication terminal. In a twenty-second embodiment, a descriptionwill be given of a communication terminal capable of obtaininginformation about an outside temperature without communicating with anair conditioner.

FIG. 43 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a communication terminal 100C according tothe twenty-second embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 35 and 43, adescription will be given of the exemplary functional configuration ofthe communication terminal 100C. In the twenty-second embodiment, thesame reference numerals as those in the fifteenth embodiment indicatethat the elements denoted by the same reference numerals have the samefunctions as those in the fifteenth embodiment. Thus, the description ofthe fifteenth embodiment is applied to these elements.

As in the fifteenth embodiment, the communication terminal 100C includesthe first obtaining unit 113, the judging unit 112B, the timing unit114, the communication unit 131, the first storage unit 143, the secondstorage unit 144, the second obtaining unit 151, the display unit 163,and the input unit 164. The description of the fifteenth embodiment isapplied to these elements.

The communication terminal 100C further includes a control unit 111C anda third obtaining unit 152. The control unit 111C corresponds to the CPU110 described above with reference to FIG. 7. The third obtaining unit152 corresponds to the information obtaining device 150 described abovewith reference to FIG. 7. The third obtaining unit 152 may be atemperature measuring element for measuring a temperature outside thevehicle.

The control unit 111C controls the overall operation of thecommunication terminal 100C. Thus, judging unit 112B, the firstobtaining unit 113, the timing unit 114, the communication unit 131, thefirst storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the secondobtaining unit 151, the third obtaining unit 152, the display unit 163,and the input unit 164 execute certain operations under the controlexecuted by the control unit 111C.

The communication terminal 100C executes the same operations as thosedescribed above in relation to the fifteenth embodiment, except stepS1341 described above with reference to FIG. 35. In step S1341, thecontrol unit 111C causes the third obtaining unit 152 to obtaininformation about a temperature outside the vehicle. After that, thecommunication terminal 100C executes steps S1342 to S1345 by using theinformation obtained by the third obtaining unit 152. Thus, in stepS1341, the communication terminal 100C does not need to communicate witha home appliance. In this embodiment, the first judgment step isexemplified by the series of processing operations illustrated in FIG.35.

Twenty-Third Embodiment

A communication terminal may determine an operation mode on the basis ofobtained information about an outside temperature. In a twenty-thirdembodiment, a description will be given of a communication terminal thatdetermines an operation mode in accordance with an outside temperature.

FIG. 44 is schematic flowchart illustrating a procedure for determiningan operation mode. With reference to FIGS. 29, 30, 35, 40, and 44, adescription will be given of a method for determining an operation mode.

Upon the start of step S1343 described above with reference to FIG. 35,step S1610 is executed. In FIG. 44, an upper-limit temperature set bythe user is represented by a symbol “UTH”. In FIG. 44, an outsidetemperature represented by the temperature data obtained in step S1341described above with reference to FIG. 35 is represented by a symbol“THD”. In step S1610, the judging unit 112B compares the outsidetemperature THD with the upper-limit temperature UTH. If the outsidetemperature THD is higher than the upper-limit temperature UTH, stepS1620 is executed. Otherwise, step S1630 is executed. In thisembodiment, a second set temperature is exemplified by the upper-limittemperature UTH.

In step S1620, the communication terminal 100B selects a cooling mode.In this case, in step S1242 described above with reference to FIG. 40,the communication terminal 100B transmits control data for the coolingmode. The operation unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A operates, inaccordance with the control data, so that a room temperature is adjustedto become a target temperature that is set to be lower than theupper-limit temperature.

In FIG. 44, a lower-limit temperature set by the user is represented bya symbol “LTH”. In step S1630, the judging unit 112B compares theoutside temperature THD with the lower-limit temperature LTH. If theoutside temperature THD is lower than the lower-limit temperature LTH,step S1640 is executed. Otherwise, the start condition is not satisfiedand thus step S1345 illustrated in FIG. 35 is executed.

In step S1640, the communication terminal 100B selects a heating mode.In this case, in step S1242 described above with reference to FIG. 40,the communication terminal 100B transmits control data for the heatingmode. The operation unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A operates, inaccordance with the control data, so that a room temperature is adjustedto become a target temperature that is set to be higher than thelower-limit temperature.

FIG. 45 is a schematic flowchart illustrating another procedure fordetermining an operation mode. With reference to FIGS. 29, 30, 35, 40,and 45, a description will be given of a method for determining anoperation mode.

In step S1650, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the outsidetemperature THD is between the upper-limit temperature UTH and thelower-limit temperature LTH. If the outside temperature THD is betweenthe upper-limit temperature UTH and the lower-limit temperature LTH, thestart condition is not satisfied, and thus step S1345 illustrated inFIG. 35 is executed. Otherwise, step S1660 is executed.

In step S1660, the communication terminal 100B selects an automaticmode. In this case, in step S1242 described above with reference to FIG.40, the communication terminal 100B transmits control data for theautomatic mode. The operation unit 440 of the air conditioner 400Aoperates, in accordance with the control data, so that a roomtemperature is adjusted to become a target temperature that is set to bebetween the lower-limit temperature and the upper-limit temperature.

Twenty-Fourth Embodiment

After control data has been transmitted, a plurality of imagesrepresenting transmission statuses of the control data are displayed.The order in which the plurality of images are displayed may bepredetermined. In a twenty-fourth embodiment, a description will begiven of a method for determining a display order of a plurality ofimages.

FIG. 46 is a table showing the data stored in the first storage unit143. With reference to FIGS. 15B, 15C, 30, 38B, 40, and 46, adescription will be given of the method for determining a display orderof a plurality of images.

FIG. 46 illustrates that priorities are set for the plurality of airconditioners owned by the user. The control unit 111B refers to the dataabout the priorities, and executes the above-described variousprocessing operations in accordance with the priorities. The prioritiesmay be set by the user. Alternatively, the priorities may beautomatically set by an application program. The principle of thisembodiment is not limited by a specific method for determiningpriorities. In this embodiment, the setting information is exemplifiedby the data illustrated in FIG. 46.

FIG. 38B illustrates that the air conditioner installed in the livingroom and the air conditioner installed in the kitchen are selected astarget appliances to be operated. As illustrated in FIG. 46, the airconditioner installed in the living room is given a higher priority overthe air conditioner installed in the kitchen. Thus, the processing loopfrom step S1243 to step S1248 described above with reference to FIG. 40is executed on the air conditioner installed in the living room, and isthen executed on the air conditioner installed in the kitchen. As aresult, the display unit 163 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 15Band then displays the image illustrated in FIG. 15C. In this embodiment,a first target appliance is exemplified by the air conditioner installedin the living room. In this embodiment, the first target appliance isexemplified by the air conditioner installed in the kitchen. A firstnotification image is exemplified by the image illustrated in FIG. 15B.A second notification image is exemplified by the image illustrated inFIG. 15C.

Twenty-Fifth Embodiment

A display order of images may depend on the difference between atemperature set by the user and a measured temperature. In atwenty-fifth embodiment, a description will be given of a method fordetermining a display order of images on the basis of the differencebetween a temperature set by the user and a measured temperature.

FIG. 47 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for determining adisplay order of images on the basis of the difference between atemperature set by the user and a measured temperature. With referenceto FIGS. 35, 40, 43, and 47, a description will be given of the methodfor determining a display order of a plurality of images.

In step S1710, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not thecommunication unit 131 has transmitted control data for the coolingmode. A technique of selecting the cooling mode or the heating mode maybe based on the principle of the twenty-third embodiment. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the communication unit 131 has transmitted thecontrol data for the cooling mode, step S1720 is executed. Otherwise,step S1760 is executed.

In step S1720, the control unit 111B sets, on the basis of the dataabout the target appliances to be operated that is read in step S1241described above with reference to FIG. 40, a processing group of theupper-limit temperatures set for the target appliances to be operated.After that, step S1730 is executed.

In step S1730, the control unit 111B finds an air conditioner for whichthe difference between the temperature THD represented by thetemperature data obtained in step S1341 described above with referenceto FIG. 35 and the upper-limit temperature set for the target applianceto be operated is the maximum. After that, step S1740 is executed.

In step S1740, the control unit 111B sets a processing order for theprocessing loop from step S1243 to step S1248 illustrated in FIG. 40.The data about the air conditioner for which the processing order hasbeen set is removed from the processing group. After that, step S1750 isexecuted.

In step S1750, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not theabove-described processing has been executed on all the targetappliances to be operated. If the above-described processing has beenexecuted on all the target appliances to be operated, the processingends. Otherwise, step S1720 is executed.

In step S1760, the control unit 111B sets, on the basis of the dataabout the target appliances to be operated that is read in step S1241described above with reference to FIG. 40, a processing group of thelower-limit temperatures set for the target appliances to be operated.After that, step S1770 is executed.

In step S1770, the control unit 111B finds an air conditioner for whichthe difference between the temperature THD represented by thetemperature data obtained in step S1341 described above with referenceto FIG. 35 and the lower-limit temperature set for the target applianceto be operated is the maximum. After that, step S1780 is executed.

In step S1780, the control unit 111B sets a processing order for theprocessing loop from step S1243 to step S1248 illustrated in FIG. 40.The data about the air conditioner for which the processing order hasbeen set is removed from the processing group. After that, step S1790 isexecuted.

In step S1790, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not theabove-described processing has been executed on all the targetappliances to be operated. If the above-described processing has beenexecuted on all the target appliances to be operated, the processingends. Otherwise, step S1760 is executed.

As a result of the above-described processing, the display unit 163preferentially displays a transmission result for the air conditionerfor which a large temperature difference is seen.

Twenty-Sixth Embodiment

If the user has not set information about the position of a targetbuilding, the communication terminal described above in relation to thetwenty-first embodiment suspends processing. If the communicationterminal is used together with a server apparatus having a function ofestimating the position of the building, the processing can becontinued. In this case, the communication terminal is able to executevarious processing operations by using the position of the buildingestimated by the server apparatus. In a twenty-sixth embodiment, adescription will be given of an exemplary server apparatus.

FIG. 48 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryfunctional configuration of a server apparatus 300B according to thetwenty-sixth embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 36 and 48, adescription will be given of the exemplary functional configuration ofthe server apparatus 300B. In the twenty-sixth embodiment, the samereference numerals as those in the thirteenth embodiment indicate thatthe elements denoted by the same reference numerals have the samefunctions as those in the thirteenth embodiment. Thus, the descriptionof the thirteenth embodiment is applied to these elements.

The server apparatus 300B includes the communication unit 320 and thenotifying unit 330. The description of the thirteenth embodiment isapplied to these elements.

The server apparatus 300B further includes a control unit 310B and anestimating unit 340B. The control unit 310B controls the overalloperation of the server apparatus 300B. Thus, the communication unit320, the notifying unit 330, and the estimating unit 340B executecertain operations under the control executed by the control unit 310B.

The estimating unit 340B includes a first estimating unit 341 and asecond estimating unit 342. The first estimating unit 341 executes theprocessing in step S1363 described above with reference to FIG. 36.

The server apparatus 300B may regularly receive information about theposition of the vehicle generated by the second obtaining unit 151 ofthe communication terminal 100B. In this case, the server apparatus 300Bis able to roughly grasp the movement pattern of the vehicle. The secondestimating unit 342 is able to estimate the position of the targetbuilding on the basis of the movement pattern of the vehicle.

If the target building is a user's home, the second estimating unit 342is able to estimate that the user's home exists near the position wherethe vehicle is often parked for a long time. The principle of thisembodiment is not limited by a specific estimation method used by thesecond estimating unit 342.

Twenty-Seventh Embodiment

In on-recommend judgment processing, position information about theposition of a building estimated by a server apparatus may be used. In atwenty-seventh embodiment, a description will be given of on-recommendjudgment processing in which position information about the position ofa building estimated by a server apparatus is used.

FIG. 49 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the on-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 25, 30, 31, 35 to 37, 48,and 49, a description will be given of the on-recommend judgmentprocessing.

In step S1805, the judging unit 112B of the communication terminal 100Bjudges whether or not the current processing is the first on-recommendjudgment processing after the setting of the control region CR. Ifon-recommend judgment processing has already been executed after thesetting of the control region CR, step S1810 is executed. If the currentprocessing is the first on-recommend judgment processing, step S1815 isexecuted.

In step S1810, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not a certainperiod has elapsed since the execution of the previous on-recommendprocessing. If the certain period has elapsed since the execution of theprevious on-recommend processing, step S1815 is executed. Otherwise, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1815, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B toread data representing the air conditioners owned by the user (see FIG.11) from the first storage unit 143. After that, step S1820 is executed.

In step S1820, the communication terminal 100B executes the judgmentprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 35. After that, stepS1825 is executed.

In step S1825, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the result ofthe judgment processing in step S1820 indicates the existence of a firstcandidate appliance. If the result of the judgment processing indicatesthe existence of a first candidate appliance, step S1830 is executed.Otherwise, the communication terminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1830, the server apparatus 300B executes the estimationprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 36. After theestimation processing, step S1835 is executed.

In step S1835, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not thedestination of the vehicle VC is the target building HM. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the destination of the vehicle VC is the targetbuilding HM, step S1840 is executed. Otherwise, the communicationterminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1840, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads the data about the building HM from the second storage unit 144.If the user has made the setting described above with reference to FIGS.12 and 25, step S1845 is executed. Otherwise, step S1850 is executed.

In step S1845, the series of processing operations described above withreference to FIG. 37 is executed.

In step S1850, the communication terminal 100B executes estimationprocessing for the position of the vehicle VC in cooperation with theserver apparatus 300B.

FIG. 50 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS1850 described above with reference to FIG. 49. With reference to FIGS.30, 33, and 48 to 50, a further description will be given of theprocessing in step S1850.

In step S1851, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests the second obtaining unit 151 to generate position informationabout the position of the vehicle. The communication terminal 100Bhandles the position of the vehicle represented by the positioninformation obtained in step S1851 as a reference position. In FIG. 50,the reference position is represented by a symbol “P1”. After theposition information about the position of the vehicle has beengenerated, step S1852 is executed.

In step S1852, the control unit 310B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B totransmit the position information about the position of the vehicle. Theposition information about the position of the vehicle is transmittedfrom the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B tothe communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300B. After that,step S1853 is executed.

In step S1853, the communication terminal 100B executes wait processing.A waiting time may be constant. Alternatively, the waiting time may bechanged in accordance with the velocity of the vehicle. The principle ofthis embodiment is not limited by the waiting time. After the waitingtime has elapsed, step S1854 is executed.

In step S1854, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests again the second obtaining unit 151 to generate positioninformation about the position of the vehicle. The communicationterminal 100B handles the position of the vehicle represented by theposition information obtained in step S1854 as a judged position. InFIG. 50, the judged position is represented by a symbol “P2”. After theposition information about the position of the vehicle has beengenerated, step S1855 is executed.

In step S1855, the control unit 310B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B totransmit the position information about the position of the vehicle. Theposition information about the position of the vehicle is transmittedfrom the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B tothe communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300B. After that,step S1856 is executed.

In step S1856, the control unit 310B of the server apparatus 300Brequests an estimated position of the building “PE” to the secondestimating unit 342. If the difference between the position of thevehicle “P1” and the estimated position of the building “PE” is largerthan the radius “R” of the control region, and if the difference betweenthe position of the vehicle “P2” and the estimated position of thebuilding “PE” is smaller than the radius “R” of the control region, stepS1857 is executed. Otherwise, step S1858 is executed.

In step S1857, the control unit 310B of the server apparatus 300B causesthe notifying unit 330 to generate a notification signal for making anotification that the vehicle has entered the control region. Thenotification signal is transmitted from the communication unit 320 ofthe server apparatus 300B to the communication unit 131 of thecommunication terminal 100B. In response to the notification signal, thecontrol unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B determines tocontinue the processing. Thus, after step S1857, step S1220 describedabove with reference to FIG. 33 is executed.

In step S1858, the judging unit 112B determines to handle the judgedposition P2 as the reference position P1. After that, step S1853 isexecuted.

Twenty-Eighth Embodiment

In the on-recommend judgment processing described above in relation tothe twenty-seventh embodiment, judgment processing for an airconditioner is executed before judgment processing for the position ofthe vehicle. Alternatively, judgment processing for an air conditionermay be executed after judgment processing for the position of thevehicle. In a twenty-eighth embodiment, a description will be given ofother on-recommend judgment processing.

FIG. 51 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the on-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 25, 30, 31, 35 to 37, and 49to 51, a description will be given of the on-recommend judgmentprocessing.

In step S1910, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the currentprocessing is the first on-recommend judgment processing after thesetting of the control region CR. If on-recommend judgment processinghas already been executed after the setting of the control region CR,step S1920 is executed. If the current processing is the firston-recommend judgment processing, step S1930 is executed.

In step S1920, the judging unit 1123 judges whether or nota certainperiod has elapsed since the execution of the previous on-recommendprocessing. If the certain period has elapsed since the execution of theprevious on-recommend processing, step S1930 is executed. Otherwise, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1930, the server apparatus 300B executes the estimationprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 36. After theestimation processing, step S1940 is executed.

In step S1940, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not thedestination of the vehicle VC is the target building HM. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the destination of the vehicle VC is the targetbuilding HM, step S1950 is executed. Otherwise, the communicationterminal 100B ends the processing.

In step S1950, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads data about the building HM from the second storage unit 144. Ifthe user has made the setting described above with reference to FIGS. 12and 25, step S1960 is executed. Otherwise, step S1970 is executed.

In step S1960, the series of processing operations described above withreference to FIG. 37 is executed. After that, step S1980 is executed.

In step S1970, the communication terminal 100B executes the estimationprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 50 in cooperation withthe server apparatus 300B. After that, step S1980 is executed.

In step S1980, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B toread the data representing the air conditioners owned by the user (seeFIG. 11) from the first storage unit 143. After that, step S1990 isexecuted.

In step S1990, the communication terminal 100B executes the judgmentprocessing described above with reference to FIG. 35.

Twenty-Ninth Embodiment

As a result of the on-recommend judgment processing described above withreference to the seventeenth embodiment, an air conditioner handled as afirst candidate appliance is found. As a result of the on-recommendjudgment processing, if an air conditioner handled as a first candidateappliance does not exist, the subsequent processing is not required. Ina twenty-ninth embodiment, a description will be given of on-recommendprocessing for determining, in accordance with a result of on-recommendjudgment processing, whether or not image display judgment processing isrequired.

FIG. 52 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation ofthe communication terminal 100B. With reference to FIG. 52, adescription will be given of an exemplary operation of the communicationterminal 100B. In the twenty-ninth embodiment, the same step numbers asthose in the sixteenth embodiment indicate that the processingoperations denoted by the same step numbers are the same as those in thesixteenth embodiment. Thus, the description of the sixteenth embodimentis applied to these steps.

In step S1210, the communication terminal 100B executes on-recommendjudgment processing. As described above in relation to the seventeenthembodiment, as a result of the on-recommend judgment processing, thecommunication terminal 100B is able to find an air conditioner handledas a first candidate appliance. After the on-recommend judgmentprocessing, step S1215 is executed.

In step S1215, the communication terminal 100B judges whether or not anair conditioner handled as a first candidate appliance exists. If an airconditioner handled as a first candidate appliance does not exist, thecommunication terminal 100B ends the on-recommend processing. Otherwise,step S1220 is executed. The processing from step S1220 is the same asthat in the sixteenth embodiment.

Thirtieth Embodiment

The principles of the above-described various embodiments enable an airconditioner in a target building to be operated before the user arrivesat the building and also enable the environment in the building to becomfortable for the user. There is a probability that the user notices,after the user has gone out of the target building, that the airconditioner in the building is left operating. In a thirtiethembodiment, a description will be given of a user operation inoff-recommend processing for turning off an air conditioner in a targetbuilding after the user has gone out of the building.

FIGS. 53A and 53B illustrate exemplary images displayed on the displayunit 163 of the communication terminal 100B. With reference to FIGS. 8E,30, 53A, and 53B, a description will be given of a user operation inoff-recommend processing.

When the user performs a certain operation on an image displayed on thedisplay unit 163 in accordance with the operation method described abovein relation to the third embodiment, the display unit 163 is able todisplay the image illustrated in FIG. 8E. After that, when the userpresses the icon button IB15, the display unit 163 displays the imageillustrated in FIG. 53A or 53B.

The image illustrated in FIG. 53A includes two icon buttons IB47 andIB48. When the user presses the icon button IB47, the target airconditioner can be set as a candidate appliance to be operated that issubjected to off-recommend processing. When the user presses the iconbutton IB48, the display unit 163 displays the image illustrated in FIG.8E again.

The image illustrated in FIG. 53B includes three icon buttons IB49,IB50, and IB51. When the user presses the icon button IB49, the targetair conditioner can be set as a candidate appliance to be operated thatis subjected to off-recommend processing. When the user presses the iconbutton IB50, the setting as a candidate appliance to be operated can becanceled. When the user presses the icon button IB51, the display unit163 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 8E again.

FIG. 54 is a table showing exemplary data generated through operationsperformed on the images illustrated in FIGS. 53A and 53B. With referenceto FIGS. 30 and 53A to 54, a description will be given of data generatedthrough operations performed on the images illustrated in FIGS. 53A and53B.

When the user presses the icon buttons IB47 and IB49, the setting as acandidate appliance to be operated is validated. When the user pressesthe icon button IB50, the setting as a candidate appliance to beoperated is invalidated. FIG. 54 illustrates that the settings ascandidate appliances to be operated are valid for the air conditionersinstalled in the living room, kitchen, child's room 1, and child's room2. FIG. 54 illustrates that the setting as a candidate appliance to beoperated is invalid for the air conditioner installed in the bed room.

FIG. 55 is a table showing data about target appliances to be operatedthat serve as a destination of control data for stopping operation. Withreference to FIGS. 30, 54, and 55, a description will be given ofoff-recommend processing.

The communication terminal 100B executes off-recommend processing, andselects a target appliance to be operated from among a plurality of airconditioners set as candidate appliances to be operated. FIG. 55illustrates that the air conditioners installed in the living room andthe child's room 1 are selected as target appliances to be operated fromamong the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen,child's room 1, and child's room 2 as a result of the off-recommendprocessing.

FIG. 56 illustrates an exemplary image displayed on the display unit 63of the communication terminal 100B that is executing the off-recommendprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 30, 55, and 56, a furtherdescription will be given of the off-recommend processing.

After the target appliances to be operated have been determined, thecommunication terminal 100B causes the display unit 163 to display theimage illustrated in FIG. 56. The image illustrated in FIG. 56 includestwo icon buttons IB52 and IB53. When the user presses the icon buttonIB52, the communication terminal 100B ends the off-recommend processingwithout transmitting control data. When the user presses the icon buttonIB53, control data is transmitted to the air conditioners installed inthe living room and child's room 1. As a result, the air conditionersinstalled in the living room and child's room 1 are able to stop theoperation.

FIGS. 57A and 57B illustrate exemplary images displayed on the displayunit 163 after the control data has been transmitted. With reference toFIGS. 30, 54, 57A, and 57B, a further description will be given of theoff-recommend processing.

The display order in which images are displayed after the control datahas been transmitted may be set depending on the principle describedabove with reference to the twenty-fourth embodiment. FIG. 54illustrates the priorities assigned to the plurality of air conditionersin the off-recommend processing. The air conditioner installed in theliving room is given a higher priority over the air conditionerinstalled in the child's room 1. Thus, the display unit 163 displays atransmission result of the control data for the air conditionerinstalled in the living room and then a transmission result of thecontrol data for the air conditioner installed in the child's room 1.The priorities may be set by the user. Alternatively, the priorities maybe automatically set by an application program. The principle of thisembodiment is not limited by a specific method for determiningpriorities.

The image illustrated in FIG. 57A includes two icon buttons IB54 andIB55. When the user presses the icon button IB54, the display unit 163displays the image illustrated in FIG. 57B. When the user presses theicon button IB55, the display unit 163 displays a detailed operationstatus of the air conditioner installed in the living room.

The image illustrated in FIG. 57B includes two icon buttons IB56 andIB57. When the user presses the icon button IB56, the user operation inthe off-recommend processing ends. When the user presses the icon buttonIB57, the display unit 163 displays a detailed operation status of theair conditioner installed in the child's room 1.

Thirty-First Embodiment

As in the on-recommend processing, the user performs, for each of aplurality of air conditioners, setting processing for setting acandidate appliance to be operated for off-recommend processing. In athirty-first embodiment, a description will be given of settingprocessing for setting a candidate appliance to be operated.

FIG. 58 is a schematic flowchart illustrating setting processing forsetting a candidate appliance to be operated. With reference to FIGS.8E, 9, 30, 53A to 54, and 58, a description will be given of the settingprocessing for setting a candidate appliance to be operated.

Upon step S270 described above with reference to FIG. 9 being executed,the processing in step S2010 is started. In step S2010, the display unit163 displays the image illustrated in FIG. 53A or 53B. After that, stepS2020 is executed.

In step S2020, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the user hasoperated the input unit 164 and pressed the icon button IB48. If thejudging unit 112B judges that the user has operated the input unit 164and pressed the icon button IB48, step S2030 is executed. Otherwise,step S2040 is executed.

In step S2030, the display unit 163 displays the image illustrated inFIG. 8E. After that, the processing described above with reference toFIG. 9 is executed.

In step S2040, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not the user hasoperated the input unit 164 and pressed one of the icon buttons IB47,IB49, and IB50. If the judging unit 112B judges that the user hasoperated the input unit 164 and pressed one of the icon buttons IB47,IB49, and IB50, step S2050 is executed. Otherwise, step S2010 isexecuted.

In step S2050, the control unit 111B updates the data stored in thefirst storage unit 143 (see FIG. 54) in accordance with the useroperation. After that, step S2010 is executed.

Thirty-Second Embodiment

The communication terminal described above in relation to the thirtiethembodiment displays, only once, an image for asking the user whether ornot to execute a remote operation. If the communication terminal asksthe user a plurality of times whether or not to execute a remoteoperation, a remote operation against users intention is less likely tooccur. In a thirty-second embodiment, a description will be given of acommunication terminal that asks the user a plurality of times whetheror not to execute a remote operation.

FIGS. 59A to 59D illustrate exemplary images that are presented to theuser by the communication terminal 100B. With reference to FIGS. 30,57A, 57B, and 59A to 59D, a description will be given of thecommunication terminal 100B.

As in the thirtieth embodiment, the communication terminal 100B presentsthe image illustrated in FIG. 59A to the user. When the user presses theicon button IB53, the communication terminal 100B presents the imageillustrated in FIG. 59B to the user.

The image illustrated in FIG. 59B includes two icon buttons IB58 andIB59. When the user presses the icon button IB58, the communicationterminal 100B transmits control data. When the user presses the iconbutton IB59, the communication terminal 100B suspends the processing.Only when the user presses the icon button IB53 in the image illustratedin FIG. 59A and then presses the icon button IB58 in the imageillustrated in FIG. 59B, control data is transmitted. Thus, a remoteoperation against user's intention is less likely to occur.

When the communication terminal 100B receives notification datarepresenting the receipt of the control data from the air conditioner,the communication terminal 100B presents the image illustrated in FIG.59C to the user. The image illustrated in FIG. 59C includes an iconbutton IB60. The icon button IB60 corresponds to each of the icon buttonIB55 described above with reference to FIG. 57A and the icon button IB57described above with reference to FIG. 57B.

When the user presses the icon button IB60, the communication terminal100B presents the image illustrated in FIG. 59D to the user. Even if theuser does not press the icon button IB60, the communication terminal100B presents the image illustrated in FIG. 59D to the user after acertain period has elapsed since the display of the image illustrated inFIG. 59C. Thus, the user is able to check the operation status of thetarget air conditioner.

Thirty-Third Embodiment

As described above in relation to the thirtieth embodiment,off-recommend processing is executed to turn off an air conditioner in abuilding. Thus, it is preferable that off-recommend processing beexecuted in an early stage. In a thirty-third embodiment, a descriptionwill be given of off-recommend processing that is executed in an earlystage.

FIG. 60 is a schematic flowchart illustrating start processing ofoff-recommend processing. With reference to FIGS. 30 and 60, adescription will be given of the start processing of the off-recommendprocessing.

Step S2110 is executed until the communication terminal 100B receivespower supply from the vehicle. When the communication terminal 100Breceives power supply from the vehicle, step S2120 is executed.

In step S2120, the timing unit 114 starts measuring time. In FIG. 60, atime length measured by the timing unit 114 is represented by a symbol“TC”. Information about the time length TC is output from the timingunit 114 to the judging unit 112B. After the information about the timelength TC has been output from the timing unit 114 to the judging unit112B, step S2130 is executed.

In step S2130, the judging unit 112B compares the time length TCrepresented by the information received from the timing unit 114 with athreshold period TP having a certain length. The comparison result isoutput from the judging unit 112B to the control unit 111B. If thecomparison result indicates that the time length TC is shorter than thethreshold period TP, step S2140 is executed. Otherwise, the processingends.

In step S2140, the comparison result indicating that the time length TCis shorter than the threshold period TP is output from the judging unit112B to the control unit 111B. The control unit 111B that has receivedthe comparison result determines to execute off-recommend processing. Asa result of the off-recommend processing, the user is able to turn offthe air conditioner installed in the building from the vehicle.

In the off-recommend processing, the image illustrated in FIG. 56 or 59Ais displayed. If the user does not press the icon button IB53 for afirst certain period, step S2140 may end. In this case, the imageillustrated in FIG. 56 or 59A may be erased from the display unit 163.The display unit 163 may display a map indicating a position where thevehicle is running, instead of the image illustrated in FIG. 56 or 59A.In this case, on the basis of the control principle described above inrelation to the fifteenth embodiment, it is preferable that anapplication program be designed so that off-recommend processing is notexecuted during a second certain period from the time when the imageillustrated in FIG. 56 or 59A is displayed.

FIG. 61 is a schematic flowchart illustrating step S2140 (off-recommendprocessing) described above with reference to FIG. 60. With reference toFIGS. 30, 54, 56, 59A, 60, and 61, a description will be given of anexemplary operation of the off-recommend processing.

In step S2210, the communication terminal 100B executes off-recommendjudgment processing. In the off-recommend judgment processing, settingof candidate appliances to be operated that has been described abovewith reference to FIG. 54 and confirmation processing for the positionof the vehicle are executed. After the off-recommend judgmentprocessing, step S2220 is executed.

In step S2220, the communication terminal 100B executes image displayjudgment processing. The image display judgment processing is executedto determine whether or not the image illustrated in FIG. 56 or 59A isto be displayed. After the image display judgment processing, step S2230is executed.

In step S2230, if the image illustrated in FIG. 56 or 59A is displayed,step S2240 is executed. Otherwise, the communication terminal 100B endsthe processing.

In step S2240, the communication terminal 100B starts remote operationprocessing. As a result, the user is able to stop the operation of theair conditioner from the vehicle.

Thirty-Fourth Embodiment

In the off-recommend judgment processing described above in relation tothe thirty-third embodiment, the communication terminal executes variousprocessing operations in cooperation with the server apparatus. In thethirty-fourth embodiment, a description will be given of off-recommendjudgment processing.

FIG. 62 is a schematic flowchart illustrating off-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 52A to 54 and 62, a description willbe given of the off-recommend judgment processing.

In step S2310, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B toread the data representing the air conditioners owned by the user (seeFIG. 54) from the first storage unit 143. After that, step S2320 isexecuted.

In step S2320, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not a candidateappliance to be operated exists. If the user has not set, as a candidateappliance to be operated, any of the air conditioners installed in theliving room, kitchen, bed room, child's room 1, and child's room 2 byusing the image described above with reference to FIG. 53A or 53B, thejudging unit 112B judges that no candidate appliances to be operatedexist. Alternatively, if the user has cancelled the setting of acandidate appliance to be operated for the air conditioners installed inthe living room, kitchen, bed room, child's room 1, and child's room 2by pressing the icon button IB50 described above with reference to FIG.53B, the judging unit 112B judges that no candidate appliances to beoperated exist. In these cases, the communication terminal 100B ends theprocessing. Otherwise, step S2330 is executed.

In step S2330, processing for judging the position of the vehicle VCrelative to the position of the building is executed.

FIG. 63 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS2330 described above with reference to FIG. 62. With reference to FIGS.30, 62, and 63, a further description will be given of the off-recommendjudgment processing.

In step S2331, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads position information about the position of the target buildingfrom the second storage unit 144. In FIG. 63, the position of thebuilding is represented by a symbol “PB”. After the position informationabout the position of the target building has been read, step S2332 isexecuted.

In step S2332, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests the second obtaining unit 151 to generate position informationabout the position of the vehicle. In FIG. 63, the position of thevehicle is represented by a symbol “PC”. After the position informationabout the position of the vehicle has been generated, step S2333 isexecuted.

In step S2333, the judging unit 112B of the communication terminal 100Bjudges whether or not the distance between the position of the vehicle“PC” and the position of the building “PB” is under a predetermineddistance threshold. If the distance threshold is larger than thedistance between the position of the vehicle “PC” and the position ofthe building “PB”, step S2334 is executed. Otherwise, the communicationterminal 100B ends the off-recommend processing.

In step S2334, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bdetermines to continue the processing. Thus, after step S2334, stepS2220 described above with reference to FIG. 33 is executed.

Thirty-Fifth Embodiment

In the image display judgment processing described above in relation tothe thirty-third embodiment, it is determined whether or not to displayan image prompting the user to judge whether or not to execute a remoteoperation. In a thirty-fifth embodiment, a description will be given ofthe image display judgment processing.

FIG. 64 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the image display judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIGS. 28 to 30, 54, 56, 59A, 61, and 64, adescription will be given of the image display judgment processing.

In step S2221, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Breads the data illustrated in FIG. 54 from the first storage unit 143.After that, step S2222 is executed.

In step S2222, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bgenerates a request signal for requesting operation data. The controlunit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communicationunit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to output the requestsignal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 ofthe air conditioner 400A via the server apparatus 300A. When thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the requestsignal, the control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes theoperation data generating unit 450 to generate operation data. Thecontrol unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the communicationunit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit the operation data. Theoperation data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the airconditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B via the server apparatus 300A. After that, step S2223 isexecuted.

In step S2223, the control unit 111B causes the judging unit 112B tojudge, on the basis of the operation data, whether or not the airconditioner 400A as the processing target is operating. If the judgingunit 112B judges that the air conditioner 400A as the processing targetis operating, step S2224 is executed. Otherwise, step S2225 is executed.

In step S2224, the judging unit 112B determines to handle the airconditioner 400A as the processing target as a candidate appliance to beprocessed that is subjected to further processing. After that, stepS2225 is executed.

In step S2225, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not theabove-described processing has been completed for all the airconditioners 400A represented by the data illustrated in FIG. 54. If theabove-described processing has been completed for all the airconditioners 400A represented by the data illustrated in FIG. 54, stepS2226 is executed. Otherwise, step S2222 is executed. If the airconditioners illustrated in FIG. 38A are selected as first candidateappliances, and if the above-described processing has been completed forthe air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen, and child'sroom 2, step S2226 is executed.

In step S2226, the judging unit 112B judges whether or not an airconditioner selected as a candidate appliance to be processed includesan air conditioner set by the user as a candidate appliance to beoperated. If an air conditioner selected as a candidate appliance to beprocessed includes the air conditioner 400A set by the user as acandidate appliance to be operated, the judging unit 112B temporarilystores, in the first storage unit 143, the air conditioner selected as acandidate appliance to be processed and set by the user as a candidateappliance to be operated. After that, step S2227 is executed. Otherwise,the control unit 111B suspends the processing.

In step S2227, the control unit 111B causes the display unit 163 todisplay the image illustrated in FIG. 56 or 59A. After that, step S2230described above with reference to FIG. 61 is executed.

Thirty-Sixth Embodiment

In the image display judgment processing described above in relation tothe thirty-fifth embodiment, if the communication terminal is able todetermine a target appliance to be operated, processing for remotelyoperating the target appliance is executed. In a thirty-sixthembodiment, a description will be given of processing for remotelyoperating a target appliance to be operated.

FIG. 65 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing executed instep S2240 described above with reference to FIG. 61. With reference toFIGS. 28 to 30, 56 to 57B, 59A, 61, and 65, a description will be givenof the processing executed in step S2240.

In step S2241, if the user presses the icon button IB53, the controlunit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads data representing allthe air conditioners 400A selected as target appliances to be operatedfrom the first storage unit 143. The data read from the first storageunit 143 may include setting data defining the operations of the airconditioners 400A selected as target appliances to be operated. Afterthe control unit 111B has read the data representing all the airconditioners 400A selected as target appliances to be operated, stepS2242 is executed.

In step S2242, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B totransmit the read setting data as control data. The control data istransmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communicationterminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400Avia the server apparatus 300A. When the communication unit 420 of theair conditioner 400A receives the control data, the operation unit 440of the air conditioner 400A stops in accordance with the control data.The notifying unit 460 of the air conditioner 400A generatesnotification data indicating that the control data has been received.The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit thenotification data. The notification data is transmitted from thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communicationunit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server apparatus300A. After that, step S2243 is executed.

In step S2243, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the display unit 163 to display images representing acommunication result of the control data (see FIGS. 57A and 57B) inaccordance with the notification data. After that, step S2244 isexecuted.

In step S2244, the communication terminal 100B judges whether or not theuser requests operation data. If the user requests operation data (ifthe user presses the icon buttons IB55 and IB57 (see FIGS. 57A and 57B),step S2245 is executed. Otherwise, step S2247 is executed.

In step S2245, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bgenerates a request signal for requesting operation data. The controlunit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communicationunit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit the requestsignal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 ofthe air conditioner 400A via the server apparatus 300A. In response tothe request signal, the control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400Acauses the operation data generating unit 450 to generate operationdata. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes thecommunication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit theoperation data. The operation data is transmitted from the communicationunit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 ofthe communication terminal 100B via the server apparatus 300A. Afterthat, step S2246 is executed.

In step S2246, the control unit 111B causes the display unit 163 todisplay the operation status represented by the operation data. Afterthat, step S2247 is executed.

In step S2247, the judging unit 112B of the communication terminal 100Bjudges whether or not the above-described processing has been executedon all the target appliances to be operated.

Thirty-Seventh Embodiment

If the user has not set the position of the building, the communicationterminal may end off-recommend processing. In a thirty-seventhembodiment, a description will be given of off-recommend judgmentprocessing that is ended if the user has not set the position of thebuilding.

FIG. 66 is a schematic flowchart illustrating off-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIG. 66, a description will be given ofthe off-recommend judgment processing. In the thirty-seventh embodiment,the same step numbers as those in the thirty-fourth embodiment indicatethat the processing operations denoted by the same step numbers are thesame as those in the thirty-fourth embodiment. Thus, the description ofthe thirty-fourth embodiment is applied to these steps.

As in the thirty-fourth embodiment, the off-recommend judgmentprocessing includes steps S2310, S2320, and S2330. The description ofthe thirty-fourth embodiment is applied to these steps.

Step S2325 is executed between steps S2320 and S2330. In step S2320, thecontrol unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads positioninformation about the position of the target building from the secondstorage unit 144. If the control unit 111B fails in reading positioninformation, the off-recommend processing ends. Otherwise, step S2330 isexecuted.

Thirty-Eighth Embodiment

If the user has not set the position of the building, off-recommendprocessing may be continued in accordance with an estimated position ofthe building by using the server apparatus described above in relationto the twenty-sixth embodiment. In a thirty-eighth embodiment, adescription will be given of off-recommend judgment processing using anestimated position of the building.

FIG. 67 is a schematic flowchart illustrating off-recommend judgmentprocessing. With reference to FIG. 67, a description will be given ofthe off-recommend judgment processing. In the thirty-eighth embodiment,the same step numbers as those in the thirty-seventh embodiment indicatethat the processing operations denoted by the same step numbers are thesame as those in the thirty-seventh embodiment. Thus, the description ofthe thirty-seventh embodiment is applied to these steps.

As in the thirty-seventh embodiment, the off-recommend judgmentprocessing includes steps S2310, S2320, S2330, and S2325. Thedescription of the thirty-seventh embodiment is applied to these steps.

In step S2325, if the control unit 111B fails in reading positioninformation, step S2340 is executed. In step S2340, estimationprocessing of estimating the position of the building is executed.

FIG. 68 is a schematic flowchart illustrating the processing in stepS2340 described above with reference to FIG. 67. With reference to FIGS.30, 48, 61, 67, and 68, a further description will be given of theoff-recommend judgment processing. In this embodiment, the secondjudgment step is exemplified by step S2340 described above withreference to FIG. 67.

In step S2341, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Brequests the second obtaining unit 151 to generate position informationabout the position of the vehicle. In FIG. 68, the position of thevehicle is represented by a symbol “PC”. After the position informationabout the position of the vehicle has been generated, step S2342 isexecuted.

In step S2342, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100Bcauses the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B totransmit the position information about the position of the vehicle. Theposition information about the position of the vehicle is transmittedfrom the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B tothe communication unit 320 of the server apparatus 300B. After that,step S2343 is executed.

In step S2343, the control unit 310B of the server apparatus 300Brequests an estimated position of the building “PE” to the secondestimating unit 342. If a predetermined distance threshold is largerthan the distance between the position of the vehicle “PC” and theestimated position of the building “PE”, step S2343 is executed.Otherwise, the communication terminal 100B ends the off-recommendprocessing.

In step S2344, the control unit 310B of the server apparatus 300B causesthe notifying unit 330 to generate a notification signal indicating thatthe distance threshold is larger than the distance between the positionof the vehicle “PC” and the estimated position of the building “PE”. Thenotification signal is transmitted from the communication unit 320 ofthe server apparatus 300B to the communication unit 131 of thecommunication terminal 100B. In response to the notification signal, thecontrol unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B determines tocontinue the processing. Thus, after step S2344, step S2220 describedabove with reference to FIG. 61 is executed.

The principles of the above-described various embodiments may becombined so as to satisfy the requirements for controlling airconditioners.

APPENDIX

A method for controlling a terminal apparatus according to an aspect ofthe present disclosure is applied to a terminal apparatus that is usedfor an appliance control system for executing, from a car via a network,a remote operation on a plurality of air conditioners installed in abuilding. The method includes a first judgment step of causing acomputer of the terminal apparatus to, in response to input of statusinformation into the computer, the status information indicating that acertain period has not elapsed from a time when power supply to theterminal apparatus is started, judge, based on setting informationstored in a memory of the terminal apparatus, whether or not theplurality of air conditioners include a plurality of target appliancesto be operated that are subjected to the remote operation; a secondjudgment step of causing the computer to, if the computer judges thatthe plurality of air conditioners include a plurality of targetappliances to be operated, judge whether or not the car exists in acontrol region that is defined around the building and that has acertain area; a first display step of causing a display of the terminalapparatus to, if the computer judges that the car exists in the controlregion, display a start instruction image for providing an instructionto start the remote operation; an output step of causing the computerto, if an instruction image region is operated on the start instructionimage, the instruction image region being used in common for theplurality of target appliances to be operated in order to provide aninstruction to start the remote operation, output, to the network,control data for starting the remote operation for the plurality oftarget appliances to be operated; and a second display step of causingthe display to display a plurality of notification images indicatingthat the control data has been transmitted to the plurality of targetappliances to be operated.

With the above-described configuration, a user is able to operate theinstruction image region on the start instruction image, and to easilyprovide an instruction to start the remote operation for the pluralityof target appliances to be operated. After that, the display displaysthe plurality of notification images, and thus the user is able tovisually determine whether or not the instruction to start the remoteoperation has been appropriately transmitted to the target appliances tobe operated.

In the above-described configuration, the second judgment step mayinclude causing the computer to obtain first position information abouta current position of the car and second position information about aposition of the building.

With the above-described configuration, the computer is able toappropriately judge, based on the first position information and thesecond position information, whether or not the car exists in thecontrol region. Thus, the user does not request, from a position veryfar from the building, a remote operation for the plurality of targetappliances to be operated. Accordingly, unnecessary operations of thetarget appliances to be operated are less likely to occur.

In the above-described configuration, the first display step may includecausing a timer of the terminal apparatus to measure a first elapsedperiod from an execution time when the first display step is executed,and causing the timer to, if the instruction image region is notoperated in the first elapsed period, measure a second elapsed period.In the second elapsed period, the first display step does not need to beexecuted again.

With the above-described configuration, the display does not frequentlydisplay the start instruction image. Thus, the user does notunnecessarily request the remote operation for the plurality of targetappliances to be operated.

In the above-described configuration, the method may further include anobtaining step of causing the computer to obtain informationrepresenting operation statuses of the plurality of target appliances tobe operated after the control data has been received. The second displaystep may include causing the display to display information representingoperation statuses of the plurality of target appliances to be operatedafter the control data has been received.

With the above-described configuration, the user is able to visuallydetermine whether or not the plurality of target appliances to beoperated are appropriately operating.

In the above-described configuration, the plurality of target appliancesto be operated may include a first target appliance and a second targetappliance. The plurality of notification images may include a firstnotification image generated for the first target appliance and a secondnotification image generated for the second target appliance. Thesetting information may predetermine that the first notification imageis displayed before the second notification image. The second displaystep may include causing the display to display the first notificationimage on the display before the second notification image.

With the above-described configuration, the display is able to providethe user with information about target appliances to be operated inaccordance with a certain order.

A non-transitory recording medium according to another aspect of thepresent disclosure stores a program executed by a terminal apparatusthat is used for an appliance control system for executing, from a carvia a network, a remote operation on a plurality of air conditionersinstalled in a building. The program causes a computer of the terminalapparatus to, in response to input of status information into thecomputer, the status information indicating that a certain period hasnot elapsed from a time when power supply to the terminal apparatus isstarted, judge, based on setting information stored in a memory of theterminal apparatus, whether or not the plurality of air conditionersinclude a plurality of target appliances to be operated that aresubjected to the remote operation. The program causes the computer to,if the computer judges that the plurality of air conditioners include aplurality of target appliances to be operated, judge whether or not thecar exists in a control region that is defined around the building andthat has a certain area. The program causes a display of the terminalapparatus to, if the computer judges that the car exists in the controlregion, display a start instruction image for providing an instructionto start the remote operation. The program causes the computer to, if aninstruction image region is operated on the start instruction image, theinstruction image region being used in common for the plurality oftarget appliances to be operated in order to provide an instruction tostart the remote operation, output, to the network, control data forstarting the remote operation for the plurality of target appliances tobe operated, and causes the display to display a plurality ofnotification images indicating that the control data has beentransmitted to the plurality of target appliances to be operated.

With the above-described configuration, a user is able to operate theinstruction image region on the start instruction image, and to easilyprovide an instruction to start the remote operation for the pluralityof target appliances to be operated. After that, the display displaysthe plurality of notification images, and thus the user is able tovisually determine whether or not the instruction to start the remoteoperation has been appropriately transmitted to the target appliances tobe operated.

A recommend method according to still another aspect of the presentdisclosure is executed by an appliance control system for executing,from a car via a network, a remote operation on a plurality of airconditioners installed in a building. The recommend method includes astep of judging, by using a memory storing setting informationspecifying a plurality of air conditioners, whether or not the pluralityof air conditioners include a plurality of target appliances to beoperated that are subjected to the remote operation; a step of judging,if it is judged that the plurality of air conditioners include aplurality of target appliances to be operated that are subjected to theremote operation, whether or not the car exists in a control region thatis defined around the building and that has a certain area; a step ofdisplaying, if it is judged that the car exists in the control region,display a start instruction image for providing an instruction to startthe remote operation; a step of output, if an instruction image regionis operated on the start instruction image, the instruction image regionbeing used in common for the plurality of target appliances to beoperated in order to provide an instruction to start the remoteoperation, output, to the network, control data for starting the remoteoperation for the plurality of target appliances to be operated, and astep of displaying a plurality of notification images indicating thatthe control data has been transmitted to the plurality of targetappliances to be operated.

With the above-described configuration, a user is able to operate theinstruction image region on the start instruction image, and to easilyprovide an instruction to start the remote operation for the pluralityof target appliances to be operated. After that, the display displaysthe plurality of notification images, and thus the user is able tovisually determine whether or not the instruction to start the remoteoperation has been appropriately transmitted to the target appliances tobe operated.

The principles of the above-described embodiments are preferably usedfor controlling air conditioners.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a terminal apparatusused for an appliance control system for executing, via a network,remote operation on a plurality of appliances installed in a building,the plurality of appliances including a plurality of target appliancessubject to remote operation, the terminal apparatus including a memorythat stores setting information for each of the plurality of targetappliances to be operated among all of the plurality of appliancesinstalled in the building, wherein the setting information isindividually preset for each of the plurality of target appliances, suchthat at least two of the plurality of target appliances have differentpreset operating setting values, and wherein a number of the pluralityof target appliances is less than all of the plurality of appliancesinstalled in the building, the method comprising: (i) causing a computerof the terminal apparatus to judge whether or not the settinginformation includes information about the plurality of targetappliances, the plurality of target appliances including two or moreappliances that are individually selected among the plurality ofappliances installed in the building, and the two or more appliances areselected to be included in the plurality of target appliances withoutrestriction to their locations within the building; (ii) causing adisplay of the terminal apparatus to, when the computer judges that thesetting information includes information about the plurality of targetappliances, perform a first display of a start instruction image,wherein the start instruction image includes an instruction image regionthat provides an instruction for the remote operation to all of theplurality of target appliances and provides a starting instruction forthe remote operation; (iii) causing the computer to, when theinstruction image region is operated on the start instruction image,output control data to the network for providing the instruction for theremote operation to the plurality of target appliances to cause each ofthe plurality of target appliances to operate according to itsrespective preset operating setting values stored in the settinginformation; (iv) causing the display of the terminal apparatus toperform a second display of a plurality of notification imagesrepresenting a communication result of the control data, each of thenotification images being sequentially and independently displayed foreach of the plurality of target appliances; and (v) in a case where theinstruction image region is not operated on the start instruction imagewithin a certain period after the first display of the start instructionimage is output, causing the display of the terminal apparatus to stopperforming the first display of the start instruction image and causingthe computer to start a re-notification timer, and prevent the firstdisplay of the start instruction image being output again before atimeout of the re-notification timer occurs, wherein the plurality ofappliances are a plurality of air conditioners.
 2. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the instruction for the remote operation is providedto stop operation of the plurality of target appliances.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the instruction for the remote operationis provided to start operation of the plurality of target appliances. 4.The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication resultindicates that the control data has been transmitted to the plurality oftarget appliances.
 5. The method according to claim 2, furthercomprising causing the computer to further judge whether or not theterminal apparatus is within a control region that is defined around thebuilding and that has a certain area, wherein the first display causesthe display of the terminal apparatus to, when the computer judges thatthe terminal apparatus is within the control region, display the startinstruction image.
 6. The method according to claim 4, furthercomprising causing the computer to obtain information representingoperation statuses of the plurality of target appliances after thecontrol data has been received, wherein the second display includescausing the display to display the information representing theoperation statuses of the plurality of target appliances after thecontrol data has been received.
 7. The method according to claim 4,wherein the plurality of target appliances include a first targetappliance and a second target appliance, the plurality of notificationimages include a first notification image, generated for the firsttarget appliance, and a second notification image, generated for thesecond target appliance, the setting information determines that thefirst notification image is displayed before the second notificationimage, and the second display includes causing the display to displaythe first notification image before the second notification image. 8.The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the notification imagesis provided as a separate display.
 9. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium storing a program for controlling a terminal apparatusused for an appliance control system for executing, via a network,remote operation on a plurality of appliances installed in a building,the plurality of appliances including a plurality of target appliancessubject to remote operation, the terminal apparatus including a memorythat stores setting information for each of the plurality of targetappliances to be operated among all of the plurality of appliancesinstalled in the building, wherein the setting information isindividually preset for each of the plurality of target appliances, suchthat at least two of the plurality of target appliances have differentpreset operating setting values, and wherein a number of the pluralityof target appliances is less than all of the plurality of appliancesinstalled in the building, the program causing: (i) a computer of theterminal apparatus to judge whether or not the setting informationincludes information about the plurality of target appliances, theplurality of target appliances including two or more appliances that areindividually selected among the plurality of appliances installed in thebuilding, and the two or more appliances are selected to be included inthe plurality of target appliances without restriction to theirlocations within the building; (ii) a display of the terminal apparatusto, when the computer judges that the setting information includesinformation about the plurality of target appliances, display a startinstruction image, wherein the start instruction image includes aninstruction image region that provides an instruction for the remoteoperation to all of the plurality of target appliances and provides astarting instruction for the remote operation; (iii) the computer, whenthe instruction image region is operated on the start instruction image,to output control data to the network for providing the instruction forthe remote operation to the plurality of target appliances to cause eachof the plurality of target appliances to operate according to itsrespective preset operating setting values stored in the settinginformation; (iv) the display of the terminal apparatus to perform asecond display of a plurality of notification images representing acommunication result of the control data, each of the notificationimages being sequentially and independently displayed for each of theplurality of target appliances; and (v) in a case where the instructionimage region is not operated on the start instruction image within acertain period after the first display of the start instruction image isoutput, the display of the terminal apparatus to stop performing thefirst display of the start instruction image, the computer to start are-notification timer, and prevent the first display of the startinstruction image being output again before a timeout of there-notification timer occurs, wherein the plurality of appliances are aplurality of air conditioners.
 10. A method to be executed by anappliance control system for executing, via a network, remote operationon a plurality of appliances installed in a building, the plurality ofappliances including a plurality of target appliances subject to remoteoperation, the method comprising: judging whether or not settinginformation includes information about the plurality of targetappliances to be operated by using a memory that stores the settinginformation for each of the plurality of target appliances among all ofthe plurality of appliances installed in the building, wherein thesetting information is individually preset for each of the plurality oftarget appliances, such that at least two of the plurality of targetappliances have different preset operating setting values, and wherein anumber of the plurality of target appliances is less than all of theplurality of appliances installed in the building, and the plurality oftarget appliances including two or more appliances that are individuallyselected among the plurality of appliances installed in the building,and the two or more appliances are selected to be included in theplurality of target appliances without restriction to their locationswithin the building; displaying, when a computer judges that the settinginformation includes information about the plurality of targetappliances, a start instruction image, wherein the start instructionimage includes an instruction image region that provides an instructionfor the remote operation to all of the plurality of target appliancesand provides a starting instruction for the remote operation;outputting, when the instruction image region is operated on the startinstruction image, control data to the network for providing aninstruction for the remote operation to the plurality of targetappliances to cause each of the plurality of target appliances tooperate according to its respective preset operating setting valuesstored in the setting information; displaying a plurality ofnotification images representing a communication result of the controldata, each of the notification images being sequentially andindependently displayed for each of the plurality of target appliances;and in a case where the instruction image region is not operated on thestart instruction image within a certain period after the first displayof the start instruction image is output, stop performing the firstdisplay of the start instruction image and starting a re-notificationtimer, and preventing the first display of the start instruction imagebeing output again before a timeout of the re-notification timer occurs,wherein the plurality of appliances are a plurality of air conditioners.